HPD: Standoff ends on SW Fwy with suspect's death
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- We are learning new details about how a police chase began that ended with a suspect dead on the Southwest Freeway.
HPD says it all began around 3am when an officer saw someone driving the wrong way on Smith Street. But when the officer attempted to pull over the man, he allegedly refused to stop.
VIDEO: HPD updates on standoff on Southwest Freeway
Police say the driver led the officer in a chase down Pierce Street, running red lights before making his way onto the southbound lanes of the Gulf Freeway.
That is when the driver allegedly leaned outside the window and began firing multiple shots at the officer. Fortunately, the officer was not struck by the gunfire.
HPD says the driver took the officer on a chase at speeds of up to 100 MPH until he began slowing down in the West Bellfort area.
The suspect hit the guardrail at the Kirkwood exit, where he crashed into a pole.
VIDEO: Southwest Fwy reopens after standoff
Centerpoint Energy was called to turn off the power, and then a SWAT team was deployed to see if the suspect was still a threat to officers.
After the suspect failed to respond to verbal demands, SWAT officers fired a bean bag round into a window and was able to see the suspect slumped over inside the vehicle.
Officers determined the man was dead, but HPD is awaiting the medical examiner to determine whether he died from crash injuries or a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
We're following this story on Eyewitness News. Watch for updates on air, online and on our mobile news app.
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