Suspect fatally shoots self while fleeing from Athens police

By Joe Johnson

A suspect fatally shot himself as he ran from police in west Athens Thursday night, Athens-Clarke County police said.

The incident happened at about 10:30 p.m. when officers were investigating a domestic dispute and they attempted to stop a male who they believed was involved in the dispute, police said.

The suspect initially fled from the officers, but he stopped in a field in the 2000 block of Baxter Street where he shot himself, according to police.

The suspect was taken by ambulance to the hospital where he died from his injuries, police said.

The incident remained under investigation Friday morning, police said.