POST FALLS — Worship services at Real Life Ministries in Post Falls halted Sunday morning when an armed, suicidal veteran appeared on the campus of the large, non-denominational church.

Dale Belieu, 59, of Craigmont, Idaho, called 911 at 9:37 a.m. to let law enforcement personnel know his location, and his intent to kill himself. The call began a standoff that lasted nearly three hours, during which churchgoers were safely inside one of the buildings on the campus, that resulted in Belieu taking his own life.  

When officers arrived on the scene, Post Falls Police Chief Scot Haug said they found Belieu sitting underneath a cross on the campus of the church, brandishing a handgun and threatening to kill himself.

Since hundreds were attending a church service at the time of the incident, Haug said he called in the SWAT team to ensure the situation was contained and people were safe. At the same time security personnel at the church, located at 1866 N. Cecil Road, initiated its lockdown procedures.

"That may have saved some lives today," Haug said. "Fortunately no one else was hurt here and we're very thankful for that."

Dave McGuire, who has attended the church for several years and volunteers as security, told The Press during the standoff that the church has procedures in place in the event of an active-shooter incident. The first priority, McGuire said, is to ensure everyone on the church's campus is safely inside a locked building.

"Everything is safe and everyone is locked down," McGuire said as he helped conduct traffic away from the roads surrounding the church. "I am just praying right now that he puts the gun down and gets some help."

Inside the church, Kathie Lyon of Post Falls sent text messages to The Press and others indicating that everyone was safe and remaining calm: "Praying and singing. Prayers of compassion for the gunman."

"Everyone hoping it is resolved soon but it is amazing to see the calm and wonderful people singing," Lyon said in another text message.

A member of the Post Falls Police Department spoke with Belieu for nearly three hours on the phone. When Belieu's cellphone ran out of battery power, Haug said a police robot brought him a replacement so the negotiations could continue.

"You're trying to create hope for someone," Haug said when asked what negotiators are trained to talk about. "This is someone who has lost all hope."

During the negotiations, Belieu fired two shots at the ground in front of him, Haug said. Just after noon, Belieu shot himself in the chest.

He was transported to Kootenai Health and pronounced dead. Haug told The Press that police are unaware of any connection Belieu had with the church.