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The Missoula County Sheriff's Department has released the name of the man who killed himself during a standoff Thursday after he was accused of abusing a kitten and trying to flush it down a toilet.

Gary Bassett, 63, of Missoula shot himself after police arrived at this house Thursday afternoon to serve an arrest warrant for aggravated animal cruelty in connection to the severe injuries to a four-month-old kitten, police said.

In court documents, prosecutors say officers responded to Bassett's home early Monday morning for a report of a disturbance. The officers explained to Bassett why they were there and Bassett let them in to look around his home.

Officers saw a kitten lying on a towel outside of the bathroom, unresponsive with blood coming out of his mouth.

Officers also reported when they were in Bassett's home, his behavior kept changing from calm to agitated. Police noticed the kitten needed medical attention and took her to a veterinary clinic.

On Tuesday, police went back to Bassett's home with a search warrant. Bassett told the officers he was afraid to come to the door. He also reportedly told them he was going to shoot himself and end it all. Bassett denied remembering what happened to the kitten, according to prosecutors. He also told officers he was diagnosed with clinical depression and that he would pay for the kitten's injuries.

Mental health professionals were called because of Bassett's repeated statements to end his life.

On Thursday, when officers went back to the house to serve the warrant, they heard a gunshot, Missoula Police Sergeant Travis Welsh said. Upon hearing the shot, officers backed out of the house and called backup. They later found Bassett deceased inside the home.

Bassett's death came the day after the cat, known as Mercy, had to be euthanized Wednesday afternoon after an MRI showed it had a broken back.

A standoff at the apartment of a man accused in a kitten abuse case in Missoula ended Thursday after the man shot himself when police arrived to serve a warrant.

The man who was accused of trying to flush a four-month-old kitten down a toilet after abusing it earlier this week died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the Missoula Police Department.

Officers responded to the scene around 1:20 p.m. Thursday and sealed off the neighborhood around Dore Lane and 38^th Street. Some residents with children living on 38th Street were evacuated to the K Mart parking lot on Brooks Street.

The man's death comes the day after a cat, known as Mercy, had to be euthanized Wednesday afternoon after an MRI showed it had a broken back.

Animal control responded to a home on 38th Street Sunday night when neighbors reported screaming coming from inside. When police arrived they found the kitten soaking wet, bloody and unresponsive.

Missoula Animal Control officials say that the suspect tried to flush the kitten down the toilet and that they also believe the suspect either stomped on it or threw it against the wall.

In the days following the incident, the community expressed outrage over the incident.

On Thursday, when officers entered the house to serve the warrant, they heard a gunshot, Missoula Police Sergeant Travis Welsh said. The officers backed out of the home and called for backup, because they did not know if the shot was directed at them.

"Other officers responded, tactical officers, negotiators. Perimeters were set and an entry was made into the residence where the male subject was found and he is deceased at this time," Welsh explained.

Police say it looks like the man took his own life and that it also appears the man lived by himself. No one else was in the house during the incident.

"We were immediately concerned for the residences in the area and pedestrians and obviously vehicle traffic, and it was necessary to shut down streets and put security around the area" Welsh said.

The name of the suspect is not being released at this time. The Missoula County Sheriff's Department is conducting a coroner's investigation into the man's death.

The policy at KPAX is not to name the suspect until charges are filed. So, until the coroner officially releases the man's name to us, we will continue not to name him.

MISSOULA - The Missoula County Attorney's Office is now reviewing the case involving the possible abuse to the four-month-old kitten known as Mercy.

Mercy had to be euthanized on Wednesday afternoon after an MRI showed it had a broken back. Missoula Animal Control officials say that the kitten was sent to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Washington State University in Pullman because it has MRI equipment and skilled surgeons.

Once veterinarians discovered Mercy had a broken back, they had no choice but to put her to sleep, animal control officials said.

Animal control responded to a home on 38th Street Sunday night when neighbors reported screaming coming from inside. When police arrived they found the kitten soaking wet, bloody and unresponsive.

Missoula Animal Control officials say that the suspect tried to flush the kitten down the toilet and that they also believe the suspect either stomped on it or threw it against the wall.

It is up to the Missoula County Attorney's Office to decide if charges will be filed in the case.

(From Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010)

Mercy, a four-month-old kitten that was rescued after a man reportedly abused it and tried to flush it down the toilet in Missoula, had to be euthanized Wednesday afternoon after an MRI discovered the cat had a broken back, according to Mary Parker with Missoula Animal Control.

Mercy was taken to a veterinary hospital in Pullman, Washington. The Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Washington State University has MRI equipment and skilled surgeons.

Animal control says once they discovered Mercy had a broken back, they had no choice but to put her to sleep.

No charges have been filed yet against the man who's accused of trying to flush the kitten down the toilet and stomping on its back.

A neighbor called in authorities late Sunday night to report a disturbance.

Missoula police responded to the address on 38^th Street and that's when they found a kitten barely alive and in pretty bad shape, but she was still alive. She was rushed to a veterinarian who determined she had a shattered pelvis. The kitten was lucky to be alive, according to the veterinarian.

(From Feb. 2, 2010)

The Missoula Police Department is investigating a possible animal abuse case involving a man who's accused of trying to drown a 4-month-old kitten by flushing it down his toilet.

Since airing the story on Monday, KPAX in Missoula has received a lot of questions about why the man has not been arrested after reports about the extent of the kitten's injuries.

The city attorney's office says that according to state law there are two Montana statutes that apply to this situation, both resulting in felony charges to the individual, but the county attorney's office has not yet seen the paperwork on this case.

A neighbor called in authorities late Sunday night to report a disturbance.

Missoula resident Stephanie Lyons was headed outside to smoke a late night cigarette on Sunday when she was alerted to the situation.

"I just heard a man sobbing, saying ‘Please God, help me. Please, oh God,'" Lyons said. She dialed 911.

Missoula police responded to the address on 38^th Street and that's when they found a kitten barely alive and in pretty bad shape, but she was still alive. She was rushed to a veterinarian who determined she had a shattered pelvis. The kitten was lucky to be alive, according to the veterinarian.

The man who allegedly beat the animal was not taken into custody, which left 38^th Street residents feeling confused and angry.

"I was really taken back that he was in there doing that to a kitten, and I just felt even worse about not hearing it before," Lyons said Tuesday.

Veterinarians believe the four-month-old kitten named Mercy, is going to make it. With community help, her shattered pelvis will be fixed. Enough money has been given by generous donors to pay for a $900 pelvis surgery for Mercy.

The Missoula County Attorney's Office advised KPAX news staff to check back in the next few days to see if charges were filed

Anyone who would like to help can call 406-541-7387 or send a donation to Injured Kitten Fund, Friend of the Shelter, 6700 Butler Creek Road, Missoula, MT, 59808.