Southwest Freeway chase suspect commits suicide after crashing into pole, police say

(Jake Reiner/KPRC2)

HOUSTON – The man who led police on a high-speed chase on Sept. 19 along Southwest Freeway committed suicide after crashing into a pole, Houston police said.

According to investigators, autopsy results determined that Marvin Wallace Martin III, 23, who fired shots at an officer during the chase, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

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Martin was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. 

According to Houston police, the chase started about 3:20 a.m. in the 2700 block of Smith Street in downtown after officers saw Martin driving the wrong way on the road.

Martin leaned out of the car during the chase and shot at officers, police said.

The chase ended about 15 minutes later, when he crashed into a power pole on the Southwest Freeway at Kirkwood Road.

A K-9 unit was called to the scene, police said. Officers fired bean-bag rounds at the vehicle, but no officers fired their weapons, they said.