MITCHELL, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW)

On Friday, April 12th a murder was reported just west of Custer, South Dakota.  Custer County Deputies were dispatched to the scene and a person of interest was identified.  That person refused to cooperate and fled.  The suspect evaded the Custer County Deputies and entered Wyoming, successfully eluding Laramie County Sheriff’s Office personnel as well as the Wyoming Highway Patrol before escaping into neighboring Colorado.

The Colorado Highway Patrol succeeded in forcing the suspect off the road using a combination of spiked road strips and ramming tactics.  When members of the Colorado Highway Patrol approached the suspect’s pickup, the suspect discharged a weapon and died at the scene of a self-inflicted wound.

The investigation into this incident spans several states and jurisdictions.  Custer County will take the lead on the murder inquiry while the Laramie County Sheriff’s Department will take the lead on the pursuit portion of the case with the cooperation of the Colorado Highway Patrol.

The suspect’s name has not yet been released.