A Perryville man on the run from authorities in West Virginia shot himself Sunday afternoon after a short pursuit by Perryville police officers.
According to a statement released by the Perryville Police Department on Sunday night, Joshua E. Rice, 25, of Perryville died of a self-inflicted gunshot in a field after leading officers and fugitive recovery agents on a brief chase through the city.
Cpl. Jeri Cain, public information officer for the Perryville Police, told the Republic-Monitor on Sunday that Rice was wanted on multiple warrants for bond revocation related to multiple felony charges, including burglary and promoting prostitution.
Rice had been traced to Perryville by a fugitive recovery team from Raleigh County, W. Va., who contacted the Perryville police for assistance in apprehending him.
At approximately 12:40 p.m., Rice was located in the 1300 block of South Perryville Boulevard (Hwy. 51). When the recovery agents attempted to take him into custody, Rice fled in his vehicle.
He the led officers on a short pursuit and, when they closed in, Rice pulled into a field in the 1700 block of Alma Avenue and reportedly shot himself in his vehicle.
“Our officers immediately rendered aid and called for an ambulance, but Rice passed at the scene,” Cain said. “A .22 caliber revolver was recovered from Rice’s vehicle.”
Rice left a message on his social media account that read, “I decided to take my life today.”
Cain, who said that Rice had only been in the area for a short time, added that he was not known to local officers, and that it was unclear exactly when he made the social media post.
