Pursuit ends with suspect suicide
Member Center:
A pursuit of a suspect wanted for questioning in an Alliance shooting ends with the suspect taking his own life.
Just after 12:30 p.m. (MST), Sunday, December 27, 2009, a trooper with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) Troop E Headquarters-Scottsbluff spotted a vehicle matching the description of a vehicle wanted in connection with a shooting earlier in the morning on Sunday (12-27-09). The trooper attempted to stop the vehicle, a 2004 GMC Sierra pickup, northwest of Alliance in rural Box Butte County.
The driver of the pickup refused to stop and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit continued through rural portions of Box Butte, Scotts Bluff, and Morrill Counties for roughly an hour and fifteen minutes, covering approximately 80 miles. During the pursuit the suspect avoided two sets of stop strips (spikes), before running over a third set of spikes just north of Bridgeport, Nebraska on Highway 385. At that time the pickup slowed and pulled onto the shoulder of the road. As officers were ordering the suspect to exit the vehicle, a single gunshot was heard from inside the pickup.
The suspect, identified as Brock Mai, 25, of Alliance, Nebraska, suffered a self inflicted gunshot wound to the right temple. He was transported by ambulance to Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, where he later died.
The NSP Air Wing (Cessna) assisted in the pursuit along with Sheriff's Offices from Box Butte, Morrill and Scotts Bluff Counties.
A special prosecutor will be named in the case. Nebraska law requires a grand jury be convened anytime a person dies while in police custody or in the process of apprehension.
