WEEKI WACHEE, Fla. — A man accused of attempting to kill two people by arson is in custody after an hourslong standoff with law enforcement, stated authorities.

Deputies from both the Hernando and Citrus sheriffs offices were at a one-story home on Maripoe Road in Weeki Wachee as they apprehended an attempted murder suspect who was armed with a firearm, according to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.

The suspect, James Buford Hines, was wanted in an arson earlier on Wednesday, said Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis during a press conference. Nienhuis said that Hines set fire to his ex-girlfriend's wooden house, but she and her new boyfriend were able to make it out safely. 

Between text messages to the ex-girlfriend and the fact that Hines allegedly bought gas, authorities had enough to arrest him, which led to the standoff at the Weeki Wachee home, said Nienhuis.

Nienhuis said it appeared that Hines was faking distress or perhaps his cellphone died while speaking with law enforcement during the standoff. Because Hines, 50, has made threats of "suicide by cop," law enforcement first used a robot see where he was inside the home because there was a fear that he may have been hiding to attack law enforcement, stated Nienhuis.

“It certainly made this a tense situation than it would have been,” said Nienhuis about Hines' claims of "suicide by cop."

Eventually, deputies looked into the window of a bedroom of the one-story home and found Hines was hiding in a closet of the bedroom, described Nienhuis.

A deputy shot a beanbag shotgun at Hines in a closet in the bedroom, however, using a "long gun" he started firing at deputies, said Nienhuis, and that was when Hernando and Citrus county deputies returned fire.

He is still alive and taken to a trauma center. At the time of the Wednesday evening press conference, there was no update on the condition of Hines.

Nienhuis said that Hines has a history with the law: Convicted of kidnapping, charge of possession of firearm by a felon, armed burglary and domestic offense where a weapon was involved.

“He’s certainly not a stranger to law enforcement,” said Nienhuis.

Nienhuis did not say what new charges Hines will face. 

During the standoff, officials urged residents in the immediate area to remain indoors unless directed otherwise by law enforcement, and to have children come indoors.

They also asked drivers to avoid the area as streets would be closed.