EMPORIA—A murder suspect led authorities from two counties on a highspeed chase Monday afternoon before taking his own life.

As of late Tuesday, the man’s name had not been released.

The Southampton County Sheriff ’s office around 2 p.m. began the pursuit of a Chevrolet Malibu when it was reported stolen by OnStar, said Sgt. Wanda Covington. The driver was westbound on U.S. 58 and refused to stop.

Once the vehicle crossed the Greensville County line, sheriff ’s deputies from that county, Virginia State Police and Emporia Police tried to stop the driver near the Emporia city limits, Sheriff ’s Major W.T. Jarratt said.

The driver turned before the James River Junction and fled on foot. The suspect fired a gun at authorities, Jarratt said.

The suspect ran behind a home on James River Junction Road. Officers heard shots before finding the suspect on the ground with a fatal, self-inflicted gunshot wound, Jarratt said.

Officials are waiting on a positive identifi cation from New York state before a name can be released, however it is believed the suspect was a person of interest in a New York homicide investigation.