 Had the gun barrel not became extremely hot and burned Higgins, what would have likely happened during his standoff?
Mr. Higgins, it was learned later, had suddenly erupted from his bedroom, brandishing a .30-.30 hunting rifle and, being annoyed at the shrieks of his wife and sister, had fired seven shells at them, killing his wife on the spot and wounding his sister in the hand and shoulder. The police used loudspeakers to tell Higgins he might as well give up, they had the place surrounded and could eventually starve him out anyway. Higgins used his own good lungs to shout obscenities back and challenge anyone present to hand-to-hand combat. The police fired tear gas shells at the house, but it was a windy day and all the windows in the Higgins house were either open or broken.
 The police would have had to force entry into his home and take him into custody.
 Higgins' wife would have eventually been able to convince him to surrender.  The police would have eventually given up on their suspect and left the scene.  The police would have had to force entry into his home and take him into custody.  Higgins' sister would have eventually been able to convince him to surrender.