CHP: Carjacker Leads Officers on Two-County Chase, Kills Self Near San Marcos

A man who allegedly carjacked a motorist at gunpoint Tuesday led California Highway Patrol officers and police personnel from multiple other agencies on a chase from the Temecula Valley deep into San Diego County, where he was forcibly stopped on Interstate 15 near San Marcos and then fatally shot himself.

The carjacking occurred around midnight at an unspecified location in Hemet, after which the suspect headed westbound, reaching the Murrieta city limits just before 1 a.m., according to the CHP.

The suspect’s identity was not immediately released.

Officer Mike Lassig said that a Murrieta police patrol unit spotted the stolen 2023 Toyota Camry and gave chase, signaling the driver to stop, which he didn’t, instead speeding southbound on I-15.

CHP officers picked up the pursuit as the suspect headed through the Temecula Valley and crossed the boundary separating Riverside and San Diego counties, according to Lassig.

He said the chase continued toward Vista, and CHP personnel deployed a spike strip crossing southbound freeway lanes at Gopher Canyon Road.

The sedan rolled over the strip, deflating its two front tires. However, the suspect continued southbound another 15 miles until reaching Deer Springs Road, just north of Escondido, where “the Camry drifted to the left and entered the center median,” Lassig said.

“The Toyota stuck a center divider and veered to the right crossing all southbound traffic lanes,” the CHP spokesman said. “The Toyota entered the shoulder area and struck the concrete K-rail in the right shoulder area before coming to a stop facing southbound.”

Lassig alleged the suspect shot himself as CHP officers and personnel from other agencies surrounded the vehicle. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. No officers or civilians were injured.

Police shut down the two right lanes on southbound I-15 until just after 10 a.m. to conduct a preliminary investigation and provide coroner’s officials time to take possession of the body.

City News Service contributed to this article.