Sky 5: Police standoff appears to end, I-495 southbound lanes reopen

Two people are dead after a multi-town manhunt and subsequent police standoff along the I-495 corridor, the Worcester and Middlesex County District Attorneys announced.The series of events began at the Shops at Highland Commons parking lot in Berlin, Massachusetts, at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. According to Berlin police, officers were on their way to the shopping plaza for a reported assault when they heard that shots were also possibly fired at the scene. When officers arrived, they found a person who sustained injuries from several gunshot wounds. The victim was later pronounced dead at the scene. Video: District attorneys provide update on Berlin, I-495 events“At the same time events were unfolding at the shopping plaza, a witness from the plaza followed a car containing the alleged suspect onto I-495 North,” Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said in a press conference.The witness was able to follow the vehicle onto I-495, where officers were able to bring it to a stop on the highway, near the Lowell Connector."State police deployed emergency services, he pulled over, which is when the chase came to a stop," Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early said. At some point during an hours-long standoff that followed the chase, the suspect self-inflicted a fatal gunshot wound.Video: Police engage in standoff on I-495A robot dog, drone and non-lethal rounds were used by SWAT teams to breach the suspect's car and confirm that he was deceased.Several agencies responded to the scene, including crisis negotiation, the Department of Field Services, the bomb squad, drone unit and police from the Middlesex District County's Office.The suspect has "some criminal history," Early confirmed. Early said he could not go into detail on the suspect and the victim's previous relationship. Traffic was shut down in both directions of I-495 as a result.Sky5 captured most of the standoff on video, which began at the start of the evening rush hour, just after 4 p.m. Southbound traffic on I-495 reopened shortly after the standoff.One lane of I-495 northbound traffic has reopened. The remaining lanes are shut down as officials investigate the incident.Both the suspect and victim are male, Early confirmed. Police have not revealed their identities.Berlin police and Massachusetts State Police, state police detectives assigned to both the Worcester County and Middlesex County District Attorney's offices, are investigating the incidents.NewsCenter 5 will continue to provide updates as we learn more information.