WGNO

Murder suspect shoots himself, ends standoff after nearly 6 hours

Kernell Harrell

NEW ORLEANS EAST (WGNO) — A standoff between New Orleans police and a murder suspect ended Wednesday five and a half hours after a  U.S. Marshal attempted to serve a warrant to a man staying at the New Orleans Inn on Chef  Menteur Highway.

Police say the suspect 25-year-old Kernell Harrell has died after shooting himself with a handgun. Harrell is accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend, 23-year-old Melissa Hunter, last week.

When the officers knocked on the motel door Wednesday around 9 a.m. the suspect looked out the window, showed a gun and refused to come out. Police say no one else was inside the room.

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