ST. LOUIS (KTRS) The suspect in a standoff with Jefferson County deputies who reportedly fired at officers during a chase on I-55 at I-270 this morning is dead. St. Louis County police released a statement saying the incident began around 9 this morning when a vehicle ran off the road near the intersection of Interstate 55 and Interstate 270. When someone tried to help the driver of the wrecked vehicle, he allegedly pointed a gun and demanded that person’s car.

According to Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Marshak, the suspect’s family called police to tell them the suspect was on his way to kill a family member when his car ran off the road near the intersection of I-55 and I-270. Police say the suspect drove off on I-55, leading to a chase. Police used spike sticks to disable the car, but that the suspect shot at police. Police returned gunfire.

Police then brought in a SWAT team and an armored vehicle and determined the suspect was dead. The suspect is identified as 31-year-old Jared Kershaw.

County police say northbound 55 is reopened but southbound have closed the busy stretch of I-55 in both directions.