The Brief

Part of Interstate 35 near Sanger and Valley View was closed following a high-speed pursuit by Texas DPS.

The chase is believed to be connected to a murder investigation in Plano.

The highway was shut down for several hours, and the identity of the deceased suspect is not yet known.

DENTON, Texas – The suspect in a Plano murder investigation was found dead at the end of a high-speed chase and standoff on Interstate 35 near Sanger and Valley View.

Chase ends in crash, grass fire

What we know

Valley View police said they got a call around 10 a.m. on Monday to help the Texas Department of Public Safety in a chase that was heading north on Interstate 35 from Denton County.

DPS said state troopers attempted to stop the suspect’s Dodge Charger. Instead, he fired shots at the state troopers and fled.

During the chase, the suspect’s vehicle caught fire, sparking a grass fire in the highway median and shutting down traffic in both directions.

The suspect was later found dead inside the burned car. It’s not yet clear how he died.

Dig deeper

Plano police confirmed the chase was linked to a deadly shooting that took place on Sunday night on Lakestream Drive, which is near Parker Road and Alma Drive.

A woman’s ex-boyfriend reportedly showed up at the house, fatally shot her, and then took off in a black Dodge Charger. No one else was hurt.

What they’re saying

“We had detectives work through the night, and they were able to locate the vehicle and had set up surveillance on it,” Plano police officer Jerry Minton said.

Neighbors in Plano say the family had moved into the home recently. They heard children playing in the home’s pool.

“It’s just a scary thought that it happens so close to you,” Paul Teixeira, a neighbor, said. “It’s a quiet neighborhood, generally, so I guess everyone is in shock.”

Big picture view

The highway was shut down for several hours while law enforcement investigated the scene and cleared the wreckage. It has since reopened.

The Source

Information in this article is from the Denton Police Department, Plano Police Department, Valley View Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the SKY 4 helicopter.