A standoff that lasted all evening has ended and police say the gunman is dead. The situation started with an attempted pharmacy robbery.

Camden Police were called to the Rite Aid pharmacy at around 7:10 p.m. to the report of a man with a sawed-off shotgun. The suspect had emptied the store of all customers and employees, except for one pharmacist.

Police from Camden, Rockland, and Rockport along with members of the FBI, State Fire Marshal's office, and the Knox County Sheriff's office responded. All entrances to the store were sealed off and the immediate area was evacuated. Police shut down the street in front of the store and attempted to negotiate with the suspect.

At 11:45 p.m., the hostage was released safely to the police. The negotiations continued until 3 a.m. when police determined that Robert Beerman, age 44 of Camden, had died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

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