Chase suspect suffers self-inflicted gunshot wound after standoff on 5 Freeway in San Clemente

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. (KABC) -- A domestic violence suspect was hospitalized with a self-inflicted gunshot wound Wednesday morning after a chase and hourslong standoff on the 5 Freeway in San Clemente, authorities said.

According to the San Diego Police Department, a female victim contacted authorities about 8:40 p.m. Tuesday and said her boyfriend had tried to strangle her. When officers arrived at the scene, the suspect had already fled.
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About two hours later, authorities found the suspect driving on the 15 Freeway, near the 8 Freeway interchange in San Diego County. When the driver refused to pull over, a pursuit ensued, making its way to the northbound 5 Freeway, a Police Department spokesman said.

At one point a spike strip was deployed and the suspect's vehicle came to a stop near Cristianitos Road. A barricade situation followed, prompting a shutdown of the southbound 5 Freeway.

Video from AIR7 HD showed a ring of about three dozen law enforcement vehicles, including two armored vehicles, surrounding the suspect's car.

5 Freeway partially closed in Anaheim due to police activity, snarling morning commute

The suspect later shot himself in the head and was transported to a hospital in unknown condition, police said. His identity was not immediately released.
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All lanes were reopened on the freeway about 8:30 a.m.

Meanwhile, some 30 miles north of the scene, the southbound side of the 5 Freeway was also closed in Anaheim due to unrelated police activity.