Police in North Providence, the Rhode Island town, have asked residents on Stephanie Drive and Meadow View Boulevard to remain inside their homes, after issuing a shelter in place order, ABC reported. 

Several people took to Twitter to say they’d received the message from law enforcement, asking them to stay in. 

Meanwhile, communication has been reestablished with the suspect after an hour of silence. The suspect has requested food (three hot wieners and a pizza) and said that he will come out after he eats.

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A 56-year-old man is armed with an AR15 rifle and refuses to come out of the house. A female is inside with him. As per the police chief, he’s fired a single shot but nobody has been injured yet. 

Police presence is heavy at the time, and people are being advised to remain indoors for their own safety. 

Chief Alfredo Ruggiero said that they’ve been in contact with the man, who’s asked for “some time”, ABC reported. 

Both local and state police are at the scene. 

The police initially responded to a gunshot at 3 PM and two hours have elapsed since then with no development. However, the female has indicated that she wishes to remain inside with the armed man. 

As per RI Breaking News Source, the man was live streaming the incident and claimed in the video that a drug dealer attempted to rape his wife. The tweet from the news source continues that the man went on to credit an officer from Cranston PD for helping him seek mental health. 

Some on Twitter are now labelling the situation in North Providence as a mental health crisis. 

According to latest updates from RI Breaking News Source, Cranston Police appears to have arrived on scene. 

North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi says the armed man is Gino Rotundo. He has a relative in Cranston Police, who’s been called help with negotiations. 

Police presence remains heavy in the area as the barricade situation has surpassed four hours. However, as per reports, those near the suspect’s house have been allowed back into their residences. 

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As per law enforcement officials, their last communication with Rotundo was around 40 minutes back and cops have previously dealt with him. Currently, the Communications Division is present at the scene. 

Amanda Pitts of CBS-affiliated WPRI tweeted that the police chief is saying the armed individual made claims on Facebook live that the police want to hurt him. “That is not the case. We want him to surrender peacefully”, the chief added, as per Pitts. 

[This is a developing story]