A man who shot himself Friday, Jan. 23, outside the offices of St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County is a tragic reminder about the community’s need for support, Bethany Cartledge, the nonprofit’s executive director said in a statement.

“We wish there were sufficient resources to respond to all of the crisis we see on a regular basis, and help prevent tragedies like what we saw today,” Cartledge said.

She responded to questions from Lookout Eugene-Springfield about a man who police said shot himself with a handgun in the parking lot of the nonprofit’s offices on the 2800 block of Chad Drive.

In a Facebook post, the nonprofit operator of emergency shelters described the man as identifying as a military veteran. The name of the man was not released by police.

He “came to the front lobby of our Chad Drive offices and informed staff there of his intent to take his life,” according to the non-profit’s statement on Facebook. Police responded at about 1:50 p.m., according to dispatch records.

Joel Gorthy, a spokesperson for St. Vincent de Paul, in an email said the man never threatened anyone else. After being in the building for “a short time,” the man exited and took out the handgun, Gorthy said.

Gorthy said a full lockdown lasted about 20 minutes. The nonprofit’s Facebook post described police as trying non-lethal force to subdue the man before the self-inflicted gunshot.

“We want to express our gratitude to the Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) for coming by and being available for our staff after the incident. Unfortunately, this is not the first time our team has been touched by tragedy, but it does not make it any less jarring,” Cartledge said.

Cartledge, in her statement, spoke of recent cuts in funding that she said resulted in the loss of the nonprofit’s case management staff. 

“These are important, compassionate people who help those most in need access housing and offer wraparound support. We need MORE of that, not less,” Cartledge wrote.