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Police identify murder suspect who committed suicide after leading authorities on chase

Posted at 2:34 AM, Jul 29, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-03 14:30:53-04

The murder suspect who committed suicide after shooting at officers and leading authorities on a high-speed chase has been identified as 28-year-old Kyle Matthew McCurrin, of Wichita Falls. 

The alleged murder suspect died early Saturday morning.

The chase ended about 1 a.m. in the parking lot of Parkview Baptist Church on Lake Shore Drive in Waco.

Hill County Chief Deputy R.D. White told News Channel 25 the suspect had shot a 59-year-old man in the chest outside a home in Abbott Friday night.

A helicopter flew the man to Scott & White Medical Center Hillcrest in Waco, where he later died. White identified the victim as Dennis Pavlas of West.

White said it all started when Pavlas' mother saw the suspect's vehicle on her property while she fed her chickens. She called Pavlas and had him come find out why the vehicle was there.

When Pavlas arrived and approached the vehicle, White said the suspect shot and killed him. The suspect then drove off.

The suspect drove down to Robinson, White said. Officers spotted his car in the parking lot of Pilot Travel Center near Sun Valley Boulevard after receiving a call about 12:45 a.m. about a suspicious vehicle.

"As officers tried to stop the vehicle, the vehicle sped away, failing to yield to the emergency vehicles," White said.

Hewitt officers, McLennan County sheriff's deputies and DPS troopers joined the chase.

The suspect drove from Robinson to Lake Shore Drive in Waco, McNamara said. 

As officers and deputies began an attempt to stop the vehicle, McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara said the suspect lost control of his vehicle after shooting himself, went through the grass, and rolled over several times in the parking lot of Parkview Baptist Church on Lake Shore Drive.

The suspect died at the scene. White said the suspect died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Authorities found a revolver at the scene.

At one point during the chase, McNamara said the suspect shot at four police officers. No officers were hurt. 

The bullets, however, hit three patrol cars. One bullet cracked the windshield of one of the cars, he said. 

The incident is under investigation.

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