Police: Man commits suicide during chase in Houston

HOUSTON — A man is dead after shooting himself during a police chase in Houston overnight, police said.

According to Houston police, officers Wednesday night stopped a man near Interstate 45, also known as the Gulf Freeway. As police approached the vehicle, they noticed the driver had a gun partially hidden under his leg. 

The officers backed off, and the suspect sped away.

Officers chased the vehicle, but lost sight of the suspect. When they later came upon the vehicle, they saw it had crashed.

Ind. police investigate death of suspect in custody

Police said they walked up to the vehicle and determined the suspect shot himself in the head, apparently while driving. The man died at the scene.

According to KPRC-TV, Houston, Jodi Silva with the Houston Police Department said, "They are giving out commands and once they get to the vehicle they realize the suspect has suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound and is sitting in the front seat of the vehicle."

The Houston Chronicle reported that the man, whose name has not been released, is described as white and between 45 and 50 years old.

The officers were not injured in the incident, according to the Chronicle.

Because police initially chased the suspect, the incident is being listed as an in-custody death.

It wasn't immediately clear why police initially stopped the suspect, nor was it known why he sped away.

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