AHOSKIE – A local man took his own life here Friday night after a police pursuit ended on Memorial Drive.

Gary Newbrough, 20, apparently died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound while seated in his vehicle at the intersection of Memorial Drive and the main entrance to the Ahoskie Commons Shopping Center. His vehicle was on the north side of that intersection.

The official report from the Ahoskie Police Department is pending. That report should include the reason why local officers were pursuing Newbrough. One APD cruiser was noted at the scene with its front end lodged head-on against the front end of Newbrough’s vehicle.

The only facts of the incident known to this point were that Ahoskie Police officers were not involved in the shooting, according to APD Chief Troy Fitzhugh, and there was a verbal confrontation between Newbrough and at least two co-workers at Roanoke-Chowan Publications where he was employed part-time.

The Ahoskie Fire Department also responded to the scene due to a blaze in the rear area of Newbrough’s vehicle.

Traffic on Memorial Drive was rerouted through the Ahoskie Commons Shopping Center due to emergency vehicles blocking the intersection.

Fitzhugh said an autopsy is scheduled for Monday and afterwards would release more information about this incident.