A grand jury will investigate the death of a 62-year-old psychiatrist found inside his south Lincoln home following a standoff with a police SWAT team over the weekend.
Dr. Subramanyam Rajagopal died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his home at 4001 Gertie Ave. late Saturday, according to a Lincoln police report.Â
Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister didn't identify Rajagopal during a news conference on the standoff Monday morning, but provided additional details into the incident.Â
Officers had been called to the home just north of 40th Street and Nebraska 2 at 5:42 p.m. after someone reported Rajagopal had assaulted a 61-year-old woman inside the home, Bliemeister said.Â
Before police arrived, Rajagopal threatened a 28-year-old woman with a knife, and she called a 22-year-old man to the home, the chief said.Â
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Investigators believe Rajagopal also threatened those two with a gun, he said.Â
Police arrived at 5:43 p.m., finding only Rajagopal inside the home, the chief said.Â
Officers shut down Nebraska 2 from 33rd to 48th streets, along with neighboring streets, for several hours starting at 7:30 p.m. as they tried to negotiate a peaceful resolution with Rajagopal, the chief said.Â
Several gunshots were heard coming from the home at 10:18 p.m., and a final gunshot was heard at 11:01 p.m., Bliemeister said.Â
Officers forced their way into the home five minutes later and found Rajagopal dead.
Investigators believe he fired five shots, wounding himself four times, Bliemeister said.Â
Police officers did not fire any shots during the standoff, the chief said. Officers seized Rajagopal's gun and are processing it for evidence.
No one who was involved in the assault or threats needed hospital treatment for their injuries.
By law, a grand jury will be convened to investigate Rajagopal's death because it occurred while police were trying to apprehend him.
State records show Rajagopal's license to practice was suspended in 1998 after a review committee found he was mentally and physically unfit, citing "organic paranoia" and failure to medically control his diabetes and high blood pressure. He petitioned to have his license reinstated in 2004, and it was in 2007.
Starting in 2008, Rajagopal briefly worked as the psychiatrist in a new mental health unit at the Lincoln Correctional Center. He left in 2010.