FLORENCE TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- An Elyria man was found dead in a wooded area Friday of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot following a manhunt by police from two counties.
Police searched the area after the man pulled a gun on a State Highway patrolman who stopped to help him on the Ohio Turnpike near the Vermilion exit.
The Erie County Sheriff's office identified the dead man as Delbert Sheppard, 26, who lived on Hunter's Crossing.
State Highway Patrol Captain Chris Zurcher said preliminary information is that Sheppard was involved in a domestic dispute with his estranged wife on Thursday, which may have triggered the events.
Zurcher said about 11:50 a.m. Friday, a trooper saw a disabled car on the berm of the Turnpike and a man walking toward it.
"He stopped, got out of his car to offer assistance when the man pulled a gun on him," said Zurcher. "The man kept saying, 'Don't do it' when the trooper reached toward his own gun. The trooper dove behind his patrol car and pulled his gun, but when he looked up he saw the man running toward Angling Road in Florence Township."
Dispatchers for the Eric County Sheriff's office received two cellular calls from motorists driving on the Turnpike reporting that a man was pointing a gun at the trooper.
Police from Lorain and Erie counties searched for the gunman. They received a tip that a man fitting his description was walking along Ohio 60, near Darrow Road, in Vermilion Township. Once again, he ran from police.
Police then added police dogs to their search. Eventually, they heard a gunshot. Minutes later, they found the man's body. Police said Sheppard had shot himself in the head.
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