MCSO: Man fatally shoots himself in car on state highway

PHOENIX (AP) -- Authorities say a man who barricaded himself in his car and threatened suicide for more than three hours on a highway northeast of Phoenix has fatally shot himself.

Maricopa County Sheriff's officials say they had been communicating with the man but he committed suicide about 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The man's name and age weren't immediately released and authorities didn't say why he was suicidal.

Sheriff's officials say the barricade situation began about 2:45 p.m. near the county line about 40 miles northeast of Phoenix.

The highway was closed off in both directions from Sun Flower to State Route 188.

State Route 87 is also known as the Beeline Highway and is one of the main routes between Phoenix and Payson.