Two dead in apparent murder-suicide after Burleson kidnapping and police chase
Burleson police chase ends in apparent murder-suicide
The Burleson Police Department was involved in a chase that ended in an apparent murder-suicide involving a man who kidnapped his estranged wife. FOX 4's Alex Boyer has more.
BURLESON, Texas - Two people are dead following a police chase that ended with a man killing his estranged wife and then himself.
Burleson police report that the man forced the woman into his SUV and refused to pull over when officers attempted to stop him.
Burleson Kidnapping Chase
What we know:
According to the Burleson Police Department, the police chase started around 7:45 a.m. on Thursday after someone called 911 to report seeing an armed man forcing a woman into a black SUV at an apartment complex on West Hidden Creek Parkway.
Officers later spotted the SUV, but the driver wouldn’t stop, prompting a high-speed pursuit that lasted about 35 minutes.
A neighbor’s backyard security camera captured part of the chase. A FOX 4 viewer also shared cellphone video of officers chasing the SUV down Wilshire Boulevard.
During the pursuit, police officers deployed spike strips along U.S. Highway 377, successfully striking both passenger side tires of the suspect's vehicle. Despite the damage, the suspect continued driving.
The two people in the vehicle were found dead a short time later in a cul-de-sac near the Bourland Field Airport in Cresson. Police called it a murder-suicide.
Two dead after apparent murder-suicide
Two people, believed to be estranged spouses, are dead after an apparent murder-suicide.
What they're saying:
"This all occurred out in the parking lot. The wife drove the 9-year-old child to school and was returning back to the parking lot," said Burleson Police Chief Billy Cordell.
The chief said his investigators are still looking into the details of a second male, possibly a boyfriend, who was involved.
"We don’t know all the details behind that," he said. "My understanding was that they were there to have a civil conversation and it just did not turn out that way. Be he called 911, and then she was able to call 911 and did not speak and just left the phone on."
"We recognize that today's events have deeply affected families involved. Our responding officers, our public safety communications personnel, as well as this community. Our thoughts remain with the children and loved ones who are now facing an unimaginable loss," Chief Cordell said.
What's next:
Police said the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the names of the two deceased individuals.
The estranged couple’s two children – ages 9 and 14 – were not hurt and are now being cared for by family members.
Witness Video
Burleson police stop kidnapping suspect following chase
Burleson police stopped a kidnapping suspect following a vehicle pursuit Thursday morning.
What they're saying:
FOX 4 talked to several motorists who witnessed and recorded part of the chase. Daniel Lopez narrated what was happening.
"Oh, he's gonna go, he's gonna go across the grass. Watch. Oh, he's coming over here. Look he's coming across the grass. He's going back on the road," he said.
The video shows the black SUV hopping a curb with multiple police cruisers in pursuit. They go behind a building, travel through a ditch, and return to the roadway during the chase.
The Source: The information in this article comes from the Burleson Police Department and witness video.