WOODLAND PARK, Colorado – One of the seven Texas fugitives apparently committed suicide on Monday after being holed up in a home surrounded by police tactical units.
Earlier in the day, police conducted a vehicle take down and arrested four of the seven fugitives who escaped from a maximum-security prison on December 13. Donald Newbury and Patrick Murphy still remain at large.
According to police, the fugitive that committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest was Larry Harper, a convicted rapist. While authorities negotiated with Harper, police heard a gun shot a little after noon.
Harper stated he would surrender after he was allowed to talk to his father.
Mac Stringfellow, chairman of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, stated the men were captured without incident and no one has been injured.
Those apprehended are: George Rivas, Joseph Garcia, Michael Rodrigquez and Randy Halprin.
Teller County Undersheriff Kevin Dougherty stated three of the men were apprehended in the area of the Coach Light Motel, south of Woodland Park.
“Three of them were arrested out of a silver Jeep that was pulled over down at the Western Convenience (store) as it left the motor home that’s up in the Coach Light area. And the fourth one was taken from the motor home area.”
Police are looking for a 1975 brown Ford conversion van with temporary plates that they believe may have been used as a getaway vehicle by Newbury and Murphy.
A tipster who avidly watches America’s Most Wanted, alerted AMW and local authorities in the whereabouts of the fugitives. News coverage will continue as events unfold.