Police surround the blue Acura in the parking lot of the Village Shopping Center apparently driven by the suspect. (photo courtesy of James Freeman)
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An unidentified man who allegedly robbed the Wachovia Bank in West Rome this morning died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after leading police on a chase that ended at the Steak 'N Shake parking lot in the Village Shopping Center on Turner McCall Boulevard, police said.
Watch a video of the police statement following the incident
The suspect did not have any ID on his person, said Coroner Barry Henderson.
Police are processing the vehicle, which had a Cobb County tag, to see if they can determine his identification, Henderson said.
Ray Chastain said he witnessed the shooting after the suspect stopped at Steak 'N Shake.
Chastain said he saw the police approach the vehicle and saw the man shoot himself.
“He raised the gun and popped himself. That’s what it looked like to me,” Chastain said.
Chastain said the man had the gun in his right hand, which would explain why the driver’s side window was knocked out.
Police found a bullet casing an estimated 60 feet from the vehicle.
Police also noted that no law enforcement firearms were fired at the scene.
The suspect was described as a 6-foot Asian male dressed in blue jeans and gray shirt.
Police say he robbed the Wachovia Bank, 2219 Shorter Ave. across from the Gala Shopping Center.
The suspect then exited the bank and left in a blue car.
According to a reporter on scene, the robber, driving a powder blue Acura, collided with Rome K-9 unit on the passenger side. Airbags were deployed in the Acura.
Rome City Police Lt. Roy Willingham told reporters that the suspect's gunshot wound was self-inflicted. Police have called the coroner to the scene.
Dept.Chief Lonzo Roberson confirmed that the suspect was armed during the robbery. He could not confirm the type of firearm the suspect was carrying.
The amount of cash taken has not been determined and there was no evidence that anyone else was involved in the robbery, Roberson said.
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