They probably meant they weren’t able to ping his phone for a location because it was off.
If that's what they meant, why didn't they, like, say that?
Police response to suicides isn’t usually productive.
Sure it is. If they shoot the person, they reduce the number of suicides significantly. Then they classify it as a justified, officer involved shooting, so their statistics look better -- doesn't get recorded as a suicide or as a murder. Win!