An armed homicide suspect fleeing multiple law enforcement agencies shot and killed himself on Interstate 25 north of Fort Collins Saturday after sheriff’s deputies forced his vehicle to a halt.
The man — who has not been identified — was wanted in connection to a recent homicide and domestic violence case in South Dakota, according to a Saturday news release from the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office.
Wyoming authorities located the man first, but when they tried to make contact he took off south down I-25 and eluded officers, the news release stated. At 2 a.m., an alert went out to multiple Colorado agencies, including the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, about an armed suspect driving toward Colorado from Cheyenne.
Sheriff’s deputies and Colorado State Patrol troopers prepared to deploy tire spikes near Buckeye, but the suspect opened fire and continued speeding down the highway, the news release stated.
Larimer County Sheriff’s Office deputies ultimately performed a PIT maneuver, forcing the suspect’s vehicle to turn sideways abruptly and stall just south of the Wellington exit, about 14 miles north of Fort Collins, sheriff’s officials stated.
The man stayed inside the truck, and before they could contact him, he shot himself, officials said in the release. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Law enforcement did not fire any weapons during this incident and no other injuries have been reported, according to Saturday’s release. Southbound I-25 was closed at the Wellington exit for approximately five hours while investigators processed the scene.
“This was an extremely dangerous situation involving an armed suspect with a disturbing disregard for public safety,” said Lt. Troy Badberg, spokesperson for the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office. “Dispatchers, investigators, and peace officers across multiple states worked together quickly and did everything they could to prevent harm to innocent people.”
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The Laramie County Sheriff’s Office, Cheyenne Police Department, Wyoming Highway Patrol, Larimer County Sheriff’s Office and Colorado State Patrol were all involved Saturday.
The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office will investigate the Wyoming/Colorado incident in cooperation with local agencies and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, sheriff’s officials said Saturday.
The Larimer County Coroner’s Office will release the man’s identity at a later time.
Law enforcement is asking anyone with information about the Wyoming/Colorado incident who hasn’t already spoken with law enforcement to contact Tyler Thomas at 970-498-5167 and anyone with information about the homicide case to contact the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office at 605-773-6878.
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