Woman found dead in home following Palm Bay SWAT incident, police say

PALM BAY, Fla. - A woman is dead after a police SWAT barricade incident concluded Monday evening. 

The Palm Bay Police Department responded to the area of Jupiter Boulevard and Serenade Street around 4:00 p.m., March 23, after a shooting disturbance was reported. 

What we know:

In response to this armed disturbance, at least eight department vehicles were seen lining the streets outside a home, Monday evening, FOX 35's Esther Bower reported. 

A fire truck and SWAT vehicles are also in the area. 

Police said a 54-year-old woman – whose name has not been released at this time – was the shooting suspect. She fired a gun at the residence, through the residents and at officers, Chief of Police Mariano Augello said March 23. 

1 person barricaded

By 6 p.m., police reported the woman barricaded herself inside a Palm Bay home, which led to several officers carefully monitoring the scene for over three hours. 

The department’s SWAT and Crisis Negotiations Team were on the scene.

During this time, the woman shot at SWAT and the team returned fire, Augello said. 

Woman found dead in home

When SWAT was deployed inside the residence – around 7:19 p.m. – a woman was found dead inside. It's not known whether her wounds were self-inflicted or if she died through the gunfire exchange. 

The chief of police said no one else was inside the home. 

"It's always disappointing. It's unfortunate that there's a loss of life," Augello said.

What's next:

The investigation has been turned over to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The FDLE will determine if the woman died by self-inflicted injuries or by the exchange of gunfire.