Local authorities will spend today trying to piece together information on a string of incidents that ended with the death of a suspect.

The victim has been identified as Nathaniel T. Boothe, 26, of Ironton.

His body will be sent to the Ohio State Medical Examiner's Office in Columbus for an autopsy.

Ironton Police detective, Capt. Chris Bowman, said city dispatchers began getting phone calls shortly before 3 a.m. today from a number of people in the vicinity of South Fourth and Wyanoke streets, stating that their cars and been struck and the other driver had fled the scene.

Just after 3, a female employee at the Speedway on Park Avenue called for assistance, stating that a man had entered the store, took some items, disabled a security camera and had shown a gun. The employee called back to say the man had left in a beige Dodge and was headed out of town on State Route 93.

Officers located and vehicle and gave chase.

"The suspect fled north on State Route 93 and then turned east on Old State Route 75 to State Route 141, and then turned onto Sugarcreek-Johnstown Road and headed west for approximately 200-300 feet," Bowman said.

At that point,

officers said the suspect's car went into a ditch. Officers said as they exited their cruisers, they heard a gunshot. The suspect was located in his car with a single shot to his head.

Bowman said his office is also investigating the vandalism of a school bus at Ironton High School in connection with this string of incidents.

In addition to the Ironton Police department, the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office, Coal Grove Police, Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Lawrence County Coroner's Office assisted.