Stolen-car suspect fatally shoots himself after chase from Murrieta into San Diego County

A man stole a car from a motorist at gunpoint Tuesday and led law enforcement on a chase from Murrieta into San Diego County, where he then fatally shot himself after being stopped on Interstate 15, authorities said.

The car was taken around midnight in Hemet, with the suspect reaching Murrieta just before 1 a.m., the CHP said.

The suspect’s identity was not released.

A Murrieta police officer had spotted the 2023 Toyota Camry and gave chase. The driver sped south on I-15, said CHP Officer Mike Lassig.

CHP officers picked up the pursuit as the driver headed through the Temecula Valley and crossed into San Diego County.

The chase continued toward Vista, Lassig said, and CHP officers deployed a spike strip crossing southbound freeway lanes at Gopher Canyon Road.

The sedan rolled over the strip, deflating its two front tires. However, the driver continued south another 15 miles until reaching Deer Springs Road, just north of Escondido, where “the Camry drifted to the left and entered the center median,” Lassig said.

“The Toyota stuck a center divider and veered to the right, crossing all southbound traffic lanes,” the CHP spokesperson said. “The Toyota entered the shoulder area and struck the concrete K-rail in the right shoulder area before coming to a stop facing southbound.”

Lassig said the driver shot himself as CHP officers and officers from other agencies surrounded the car.