Suspect died of a self- inflicted gunshot wound

A carjacking suspect involved Thursday morning in a police pursuit on Interstate 70 through Arapahoe County and into Denver died of a self- inflicted gunshot wound, police said.

A section of westbound I- 70 was closed for nearly six hours from Interstate 270 to Washington Street as police investigated. Denver police officers assisted the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office in attempting to stop and apprehend the armed carjacking suspect, said Denver police spokesman Jay Casillas.

At 10: 49 a. m., the suspect, who had a gun, stole another man’s wallet and keys at a liquor store at 1497 Main St. in Strasburg, about 40 miles east of Denver, sheriff’s office Capt. Jared Rowlison said. The suspect then fled with the victim’s car. Another deputy in the area saw the car and tried to stop the driver on westbound I- 70, but the suspect didn’t stop.

The chase continued into Denver, reaching speeds of more than 100 mph, Rowlison said at a news conference Thursday afternoon. More deputies and Colorado State Patrol troopers joined the pursuit.

As they got closer to the city and more congestion, the suspect slowed to speeds of about 25 mph.

“We needed to find this person and get him stopped before he was perhaps able to do something else to another citizen,” Rowlison said.

Deputies stopped the stolen car near I- 70 and Washington Street and ordered the suspect to get out, Rowlison said.

The suspect did not, so Denver police officers fired less- lethal rounds, Casillas said at the news conference. Officers then heard a gunshot and found the suspect with what appeared to be a selfinflicted wound. They also found a handgun in the vehicle.

The suspect died at a hospital, Casillas said.

The Denver Police Department is investigating the death.