The Associated Press
GREAT FALLS (AP) -- A man who was stopped for a traffic violation fired multiple shots at an officer and fled, then shot himself to death when officers finally caught up with him, police here said Thursday.
Sgt. Tito Rodriguez said one bullet struck the officer’s bulletproof vest in the Wednesday night shooting, but the officer was not wounded. Rodriguez said police did not shoot at the man.
Officials withheld both the officer’s name and the identity of the dead gunman, who was about 30 years old.
Police said they had no immediate explanation for why the man fired at the officer. They found no outstanding warrants for him.
The incident started with a traffic stop in Great Falls about 11 p.m. Wednesday after an officer noticed the man was driving without headlights, police said.
Seconds after the officer radioed the traffic stop, he called again saying shots were fired, Sgt. Jim Wells said.
Though the officer knew he had been shot, he followed the car as it raced east. He was soon joined in the chase by other officers.
The gunman’s car stopped 40 to 50 blocks away, and police said they immediately heard a “pop.” They surrounded the car for about an hour before approaching and finding the man dead inside at about 12:30 a.m. Thursday.