Great Bend Police Chief Steve Haulmark released the following statement Friday afternoon:

On 12/27/2024 at approximately 0912 a.m., Officers with the Great Bend Police Department were dispatched to the 1500 block of 7th St in reference to an unknown disturbance.

While responding to the scene, Dispatch updated the call and advised that it was a domestic situation.

When they arrived, Officers located a female victim on the ground with an apparent gunshot wound.  Officers also observed a white Chevrolet pickup leaving the scene at a high rate of speed.

Officers with the Great Bend Police Department and Deputies with the Barton County Sheriff's Office pursued the Chevrolet pickup southbound on U281 Hwy., into Stafford County.  Assisting Officers were able to successfully deploy stop sticks in Stafford County.  The Chevrolet pickup continued west on U50 Hwy. where the driver lost control of the vehicle and it rolled over, coming to rest in a field.

Officers approached the Chevrolet pickup and located the driver and sole occupant deceased of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The female victim from the scene was transported by Great Bend Fire Department Ambulance to University of Kansas Health Systems Great Bend Campus, where she was pronounced deceased.

The names of the victim and suspect are not being released at this time, pending notification of family members.

The Great Bend Police Department was assisted in this case by the Barton County Sheriff's Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Kansas Bureau of Investigations, the Stafford County Sheriff's Office and the St. John Police Department.

This case is still under investigation. Anyone with any information regarding this or any other crime are encouraged to contact the Great Bend Police Department at 620-793-4120 or Barton County Crim Stoppers 620-792-1300 or online at p3tips.com.