(Spencer)– A suspect wanted on a warrant out of Sublette, county Wyoming for sexual abuse of a minor fatally shot himself after authorities attempted to make contact with him today (Thursday) at a Spencer motel.
Spencer police say they went to the AmericInn shortly after 10:30 a.m. to serve the arrest warrant. They knocked on the door of the room the suspect was staying in, stating the reason they needed to talk to him. The suspect denied there were any warrants for his arrest and that he had not lived in Wyoming.
After several more requests for the suspect to leave the room, officers heard what they thought was a muffled gun shot come from the room. About 30 seconds later they heard two more definite gun shots come from the room.
At that point the motel was locked down and staff and other guests were evacuated.
Officers from the Clay, Dickinson and Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Offices, the Division of Criminal Investigation and the State Patrol responded, Additional attempts to make contact with the suspect were unsuccessful. Authorities then broke out a window to the room and used a pole camera to peer into it. The suspect could be seen lying motionless on a bed.
An entry team gained access to the room and found the suspect deceased on the bed. A handgun was found nearby with one live round on the bed and atleast one spent shell nearby.
Authorities have not released the name of the suspect pending notification of relatives.
Authorities say no other persons were with the suspect, and no other injuries were reported.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the DCI are conducting a follow-up investigation. They say more information will be released when it becomes available.
