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Sam Penrod ReportingBill Garff, Witness: "We heard a bang and saw a car go speeding by us, and I realized we'd been shot at."
A frightening episode on I-15 in central Utah today. A bank robbery suspect led troopers on a car chase while he shot at other motorists. During that pursuit in Millard County, the man fired gunshots at other motorists and finally took his own life.
The episode started on I-15 and ended on State Road 257. Speeds reached up to 120 mile per hour. No one was injured in the chase or by the shots fired. .
According to our calculations, the suspect led officers on a chase for more than 100 miles. To make matters worse, he shot at two different vehicles in his desperate attempt to get away.
Bill Garff, Witness, KCSG: "We are extremely grateful that neither my wife nor I was killed. I'm especially grateful about my wife because she was driving the car, and if he'd shot through the front window instead of the back window it could have very easily killed my wife."
This is what the suspect's 40- caliber handgun did to the Garff's SUV. A semi-truck also reported being shot at. Police believe the suspect was trying to create a diversion to force police to stop chasing him, but it didn't work.
The suspect was in a Mustang and, by all accounts, put the pedal to the metal on the freeway and also on dirt roads.
Lt. Fred Swain, Utah Highway Patrol: "The Mustang they believe was up to 125 mph at one point, most of it was 120, and it was obvious he was trying to go as fast as he could get that car to go."
Sheriff Robert Dekker, Millard County Sheriff: "They are pretty good dirt roads, but not for the speeds these units were traveling. And obviously he didn't know that area, but took these officers on a chase."
Speeds on the dirt roads average about 75 miles per hour. When the suspect was cornered he drove off the road, and that is when police believe he shot himself. No officers fired their weapons in this pursuit.
The suspect is believed to have been from Oregon; police have not released his name. The Utah license plates on the car were stolen from Wendover yesterday.
The Highway Patrol plans to release dash camera video from this chase and we'll have that tomorrow on Eyewitness News.
Police say they found evidence in the shooter's car tonight that he robbed a Zion's bank in Taylorsville before the chase, this morning.
Employees say a man was dressed in a trench coat, dress shirt and tie, and that he handed a teller a note claiming he had a gun, and demanded money. Witnesses say he didn't show the weapon or make any threats. He drove off in a maroon Ford Mustang.
