Murder suspect leads cops on high speed chase before his suicide
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas -- A murder suspect led them on a high-speed chase and crashed into several drivers before fatally shooting himself early Friday morning, according to police.
CBS affiliate KHOU reports that the suspect was pulled over in an area west of Houston for having expired license plates. When the officer realized the man was a wanted murder suspect, he called for back up.
The 24-year-old suspect then allegedly got out of his vehicle and grabbed a handgun from the back of his car before opening fire on the officer. A shootout ensued and the suspect was able to get back into his car and speed away, KHOU reports.
The suspect then allegedly stole a Toyota Corolla from two people at a gas station and sped away.
Police say the driver was traveling around 100 mph and in the wrong direction on the highway and struck multiple cars before finally coming to a stop after he crashed into a railing.
He then shot himself in the head, the station reported. Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Thomas Gilliland said two others suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and six vehicles were struck by the suspect. He said he feared the situation could have ended worse.
"You have rush hour traffic," Gilliland said. "You have a desperate felon, a murder suspect trying to evade deputies. He's already shot at deputies and at civilians. This could have been an absolutely horrific scene."