Police say vehicle chase ended in death of suspect

ROCKY MOUNT, Edgecombe County — A man with multiple arrest warrants led police on a chase in Rocky Mount Monday night.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol was pursuing the vehicle on U.S. 301 but called off the chase because of heavy rains and the driver's speed in the harsh weather, and the Nash County Sheriff's Department was notified about 15 minutes later of a crash on North Browntown Road.

Sheriff's officials say witnesses provided a vehicle description and tag number, which matched the car involved in the chase with NCSHP.

Investigators say although the vehicle was heavily damaged, the suspect was able to drive away from the scene.

Not long after the NCSO says they were notified that the vehicle was on N.C. 43 near Jernigan’s Food Store driving very slowly, and when deputies approached they say the driver got out of the car, walked to the front of his vehicle, produced a handgun and shot himself in the head.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, and officials say no shots were fired at any deputies and no deputies fired their weapons.

Investigators later determined that the man had two outstanding warrants for his arrest; one in Rocky Mount for armed robbery and another in Halifax County for, as a sex offender, failing to notify the sheriff's department about an address change.

The gun used in the incident had been reported stolen out of Whitakers, officials add.