Law enforcement agencies respond to vehicle pursuit, suicide

On Tuesday, September 20, at approximately 2:36 a.m., a male subject called 911 and reported that he had been shot and was going to kill himself. It was determined that the caller was in a vehicle and traveling somewhere near in Highway 70 SW and Highway 321 SW. While officers were responding to the area, HPD received additional information that the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office was responding to the area of Startown Road in reference to a shooting that was possibly related to the same subject. 

Upon arrival to the area, Officers located the vehicle traveling north on Highway 321 in the southbound lanes. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to stop and continued north on Highway 321. Officers stayed in the northbound lanes of travel and followed the vehicle north on Highway 321 into Caldwell County. 

The vehicle continued north until it reached the City Limits of Lenoir. Lenoir Police deployed stop sticks and disabled the vehicle. Shortly after driving over the stop sticks the vehicle veered to the right and came to a stop on the northbound side of Highway 321. 

When officers approached the vehicle, they discovered one occupant, James Jarmel Ivey Jr, B/M (21). Ivey appeared to be suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Ivey was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

The Lenoir Police Department is investigating the traffic crash and apparent suicide.