A 23 year old man died from alleged self inflicted wounds following a police pursuit on Friday afternoon in Fayette County. Fayette County Coroner David Hejl says that on Friday afternoon local law enforcement initially responded to a call by family members concerned for the 23 year old man’s safety and well being due to statements made by him. Fayette County Sheriff Chris Smith says that himself, Vandalia Police and St. Elmo Police were all involved in a pursuit of the 23 year old man on Friday afternoon. Sheriff Smith says that pursuit started in Brownstown, went to St. Elmo and then back to Brownstown–where it ended at the east end of Brownstown. Coroner Hejl says the 23 year old man was pronounced dead at Fayette County Hospital due to self-inflicted wounds from a firearm after the pursuit by law enforcement agencies. Coroner Hejl says an autopsy was performed on Saturday at St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham, with the evidence and the wounds being consistent with a self inflicted injury.
In the pursuit, Sheriff Smith says that two squad cars–his and one from St. Elmo PD–received damage. And, Sheriff Smith added that he and the St. Elmo Office both went to Fayette County Hospital for treatment and were released.