Arkansas State Police (ASP) are investigating the death of a man who fatally shot himself following a police pursuit involving multiple law enforcement agencies in Hot Spring County on Friday.
The incident began around 6:20 p.m. when Rockport Police officers stopped 43-year-old Christopher Buckley at the intersection of Babcock and Nix roads for a traffic violation. Officers discovered Buckley had outstanding warrants out of Malvern and Hot Spring County, according to state police.
Buckley fled the traffic stop, prompting a pursuit involving Rockport and Malvern police and Hot Spring County sheriffs deputies. After several failed attempts to stop the vehicle using tactical maneuvers, Buckley crashed near Watts and McAlister streets and fled on foot.
Police said Buckley was later confronted by a Malvern officer near Sand and Mt. Willow roads, where he shot himself with a handgun.
He was taken to a hospital in Malvern and later transferred to UAMS in Little Rock, where he died around 2:30 a.m. Saturday.
The Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division is conducting the investigation at the request of the Rockport Police Department. The case remains under investigation.
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