A sheriff’s department death investigation in a La Quinta residential neighborhood sparked a freeway pursuit Thursday morning that ended in the Inland Empire.
The death investigation took place at about 8 a.m. in the 54700 block of Avenida Vallejo, where one person was found dead, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
Sheriff’s officials later informed the California Highway Patrol that a possibly armed suspect could be heading westward out of the desert in a blue Toyota Tundra, according to CHP Officer Darren Meyer.
CHP units took pursuit of the Tundra at around 8:30 a.m. on westbound Interstate 10 near Banning. Meyer said the driver was able to avoid a spike strip laid somewhere near Oak Valley Parkway, and continued driving westward into San Bernardino County.
The pursuit ended near Archibald Avenue in Ontario, where the suspect pulled over and shot himself, according to media reports. The suspect’s condition was unknown, and law enforcement has not confirmed the self-inflicted shooting.
At around 10:15 a.m., Riverside County sheriff’s officials said there was no threat to public safety.
Sheriff’s deputies also denied apparent reports that the shooting was a double homicide.