Man shot himself after being followed by police on Texas highway, medical examiner says
A man pronounced dead on Texas 114 in Westlake after being followed by police died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to a ruling by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Alex Vellmure died from a gunshot wound to his head and his death was ruled a suicide, according to officials with the medical examiner’s office in Fort Worth.
Vellmure was pronounced dead at 8:30 p.m. Sunday on westbound Texas 114 in Westlake near Southlake.
The case began in a parking lot at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport on Sunday when police there responded to a call of a person in distress, according to a DFW Airport official.
When officers from the airport’s police department arrived, the man — later identified as Vellmure — drove away from the scene and later stopped on Texas 114, the official said.
Airport officials said officers were not in a police pursuit of Vellmure.
Airport officials did not release any information on whether officers shot at Vellmure or if he shot at officers.
Southlake police posted on social media around 7:45 p.m. that westbound Highway 114 was down to one lane and traffic was backed up due to “a critical incident from another agency that came through town & ended in Westlake.” Southlake police said shortly before midnight that the highway had reopened.
Drivers who said they were on the highway at the time commented on social media that they saw officers with guns drawn.
If you or a loved one is experiencing a crisis or suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
