Motel parking lot of 200 South McDowell Blvd in Petaluma 3-12-24 (Santa Rosa Police)
A suspect who shot himself during a police standoff in a motel room in Petaluma has died. Fifty-five-year-old John Rector shot himself last Tuesday, ending a SWAT standoff that lasted several hours. Petaluma police confirm he died in a hospital last Friday. The barricade started as police tried to serve Rector two warrants connected with felony domestic violence and arson charges. Rector threatened officers several times during the standoff and spoke about committing suicide.