The Jefferson County Sheriff Department reports a suspect in a car theft shot and killed himself as a deputy was attempting to take him into custody.
The suspect, whose name has not been released, was declared deceased at the scene by Jefferson County Coroner Roger Hayse.
The sheriff’s department first responded to a report of a vehicle being stolen from a citizen who stopped to help a person stuck alongside the Richview Road just east of North Hart Lane.
A deputy discovered the stolen vehicle off of Richview Road, near the intersection of Grand Road where it had crashed. The suspect was located at the crash site and the deputy attempted to take him into custody. During the process, the suspect allegedly shot himself. The Deputy was not injured.
Other Deputies, officers from the Mt. Vernon Police Department, Troopers from Illinois State Police, firefighters from Mt. Vernon and Irvington Fire Departments, and EMS personnel from Litton Ambulance responded to the scene to assist.
Investigators from the Illinois State Police responded to process the scene and investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the suspect. Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office, along with Detectives from the Mt. Vernon Police Department, are working the stolen vehicle investigation.
