Pursuit on US 211 Ends in Tragedy as Armed Suspect Dies by Apparent Suicide

US Route 211 was shut down for hours on Friday as police responded to reports of an armed man in the area.Photo byBreaking Through News

Written by: Michael Phillips

PAGE COUNTY, VIRGINIA - A high-speed chase on US 211 ended tragically on Friday, September 13, 2024, when an armed suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a tense standoff with law enforcement. The incident, which lasted over an hour, prompted a major response from the Page County Sheriff’s Office and surrounding law enforcement agencies.

The situation began around 9:12 a.m. when the Page County Emergency Communications Center received a teletype from the Rappahannock County Sheriff’s Office. A teletype is a text-based message system used by law enforcement agencies to share urgent information, such as alerts about suspects or dangerous situations. In this case, the message warned of a possibly suicidal man believed to be armed with a handgun and rifles and heading toward Page County.

At 10:13 a.m., a Page County deputy spotted the suspect's vehicle near Bixler’s Ferry Road and Airport Road. The driver began to flee when the deputy attempted a traffic stop, and his driving quickly became reckless. During the pursuit, the deputy observed the suspect brandishing a firearm, escalating the situation.

The chase ended abruptly at 10:27 a.m. when the suspect's vehicle came to a stop on US 211 between US 340 and Crisman Hollow Road. Deputies made repeated attempts to communicate with the driver but received no response. A drone was deployed to observe the vehicle, and when officers approached, they found the man dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The scene was secured and investigated for approximately three hours, during which US 211 remained closed. The body was later transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy and identification. No further details about the deceased have been released.

In a somewhat unusual but thoughtful gesture, the Page County Sheriff’s Office publicly expressed condolences to the family of the suspect. The statement, acknowledging the tragic nature of the event, underscores a recognition of the individual’s mental health struggles despite the danger involved. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones,” the office said in a statement.

The sheriff’s office also thanked its local and regional law enforcement partners for their assistance and urged anyone with additional information related to the case to contact 1st Sergeant Jarrett Hall or Captain Tim Lansberry with the Page County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division.