A central Kentucky father who had sought parenting help on a television reality show fatally shot himself after a standoff with police during the long Fourth of July weekend, authorities said.
Scott Terrill, 37, called police on his cell phone from a local cemetery on Friday's holiday and threatened to harm himself, Georgetown police Capt. Scott Starns said Tuesday.
Terrill had gone to his father's grave at Georgetown Cemetery that day with a handgun and threatened to shoot himself in the chest, Starns added.
The police officer said Terrill spoke with Chief Greg Reeves for about an hour, then abruptly shot himself.
"We thought we were making some progress at one point," Starns said. "Then he just squeezed the trigger."
Terrill was pronounced dead Friday night at Georgetown Community Hospital.
Terrill and his two sons were featured on an episode of The Walt Disney Co.-owned ABC's "Supernanny" that aired Jan. 23. The show's star, Jo Frost, helps families deal with out-of-control children.
The show's production company, Ricochet, expressed "profound sadness" upon hearing of Terrill's death.
"Such tragic news has been devastating," a statement from the company said. "Scott was a big-hearted, gentle, loving man who cared deeply for his children."
During the standoff, Starns said, Terrill requested to speak directly to Reeves, who was off-duty and celebrating the Fourth of July.
"Normally these things don't turn out like that," Starns said. "It was a troubling incident to everybody."
Starns said four homes near the cemetery were evacuated on Friday.
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