Man in standoff fatally shoots himself

<br>ASHER, Okla. (AP) _ A man who barricaded himself in his home fatally shot himself after a standoff that lasted several hours, authorities said. <br><br>William Ben Cooper was found in the living room

Saturday, August 16th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ASHER, Okla. (AP) _ A man who barricaded himself in his home fatally shot himself after a standoff that lasted several hours, authorities said.

William Ben Cooper was found in the living room of his home about 1:20 p.m. with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Pottawatomie County sheriff's investigator Todd Hignite said.

Police Chief James Brand was responding to a domestic dispute between Cooper and his wife when Cooper barricaded himself inside about 8 a.m., Hignite said.

Cooper, 44, told authorities he would shoot anyone who entered and that Friday was a ``good day to die,'' Hignite said.

Authorities responded to Cooper's demands, including contacting a television crew, he said.

Cooper fired shots about 10 a.m. and at noon, shortly before authorities placed a non-toxic gas inside the home.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is looking into the shooting, agency spokeswoman Jessica Brown said.