[Tax-chick]

“Don’t back me into a corner,” his father remembers Austin saying. “Because I’ll make it go away in four seconds.” To Russell Reeves [the father], the meaning was clear — Austin would hurt himself if he wasn’t left in peace. Stunned and afraid, Reeves [the father] dialed the Hingham police just after 10 p.m. to ask for help.

I'm confused. Mr. Reeves says he believed his son should be left alone, or he would "hurt himself," but Mr. Reeves called the police. It sounds as if Mr. Reeves really believed that Austin might hurt somebody else (the ex-girlfriend?) if he were left alone.

[CyberAnt]

I think you are correct. And .. that is the usual concern; he person with the gun will shoot one of the officers, a family member, or the person they’re angry with.

It’s a fine line; hardest job in the world.