LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Criminal Investigation Division of Arkansas State Police is investigating an incident where a man was shot and killed by police after leading officers on a high-speed chase on Monday afternoon.
A 35-year-old Hot Springs man wanted by the U.S. Marshals was driving a white 1996 BMW with fictitious plates, according to a report by ASP.
A pursuit of the suspect began in Benton and ended in Little Rock when an ASP trooper used a PIT maneuver on the suspect's vehicle on I-30 near the University Avenue exit.
The suspect reportedly fired at officers who then returned fire and struck the suspect. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Multiple police agencies including Arkansas State Police, Little Rock police, and the SWAT team were at the scene for hours.
Because of the incident, the area around Exit 132 on I-30 was closed off until the scene had been cleared. The exit was closed for a little over five hours during the incident, according to the Arkansas Dept. of Transportation.
Arkansas State Police later identified 35-year-old Aaron Watson of Hot Springs as the individual shot and killed by police.
According to Garland County documents, Watson was free on bond from an arrest on drug charges. That led to a probation violation following a guilty plea for selling meth to federal agents in 2017.
An investigative case file is set to be presented to the prosecuting attorney to determine whether or not the use of deadly force was consistent with state law.
The investigation into this incident remains ongoing and we will update with more information as it becomes available.