Exclusive: Man who fatally shot self at end of Vacaville pursuit identified
(Photo obtained by Solano NewsNet)
A man who fatally shot himself at the end of a police pursuit on Tuesday has been identified as Andrew Smith-Hutchinson of Vacaville.
His identity was confirmed by two friends who spoke with Solano NewsNet Tuesday evening.
Smith-Hutchinson, 33, was driving a dark-colored Lexus sedan early Tuesday morning when a Vacaville police officer attempted to pull him over for an unknown traffic violation.
Instead of pulling over, Smith-Hutchinson led police on a pursuit that wound through several city streets before ending up on the west-bound lanes of Interstate 80. At one point, he exited at Manuel Campos Parkway, only to drive onto the east-bound lanes of the freeway headed for Vacaville.
Police were able to deploy two sets of spike strips that ultimately disabled the vehicle’s tires. Smith-Hutchinson exited the freeway in Vacaville, then stopped his car near the intersection of Alamo Drive and Merchant Street.
Deputies from the Solano County Sheriff’s Department and officers with the California Highway Patrol assisted Vacaville Police during portions of the chase. A CHP helicopter stayed overhead during much of the pursuit.
As the chase re-entered Vacaville, police were able to deploy a set of spike strips, flattening most of the car’s tires.
The pursuit ended in Vacaville around 1 a.m. when the car stopped near the intersection of Alamo Drive and Merchant Street.
A brief standoff ensued until the pilot of the CHP helicopter reported seeing the man’s lifeless body slumped over the center console of the car with a large pool of blood on his shirt. An officer walked up to the vehicle and confirmed Smith-Hutchinson was wounded by an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Police later recovered a Smith & Wesson handgun in the car next to the man’s body. The gun was legally owned by Smith-Hutchinson, Solano NewsNet learned on Tuesday.
The Solano County Major Crimes Unit is investigating the incident.
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