MANSFIELD, La. - A wanted man who led DeSoto Parish sheriff's deputies on a pursuit Sunday afternoon on Interstate 49 took his own life after a crash and exchange of gunfire, according to Sheriff Jayson Richardson.
The man died at the scene. He has not yet been publicly identified.
The incident started around 3:30 p.m. as the sheriff's office got a call about a reckless driver headed north on I-49. Deputies caught up with him within 3 minutes.
Deputies ran the plates and discovered the vehicle had been stolen hours earlier in Vernon Parish. The driver did not stop so a pursuit began.
As the man approached the Highway 509 exit, he crossed the median and went into the southbound lanes. He stopped on an embankment and got out with a gun, Richardson said.
The man fired multiple rounds at deputies, who returned fire. He walked a short distance before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the sheriff said.
No deputies were injured.
The incident caused the northbound lanes of I-49 to be closed for hours at the Highway 509 exit, in addition to the eastbound lanes of Highway 509.
The man was wanted out of Beauregard Parish, where he reportedly stole another vehicle also earlier in the day.
Louisiana State Police are heading up the investigation.