A 29-year-old man died as the result of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound that occurred as he chased down his ex-girlfriend in Newark, Ohio, last week.

According to Newark Police Chief Barry Connell, just two days prior to the incident, the woman called the police to report that Phillip L. Parker II threatened to kill her and her family.

The shooting unfolded around 10:45 a.m. July 24 after Parker located the woman in a Walmart parking lot. As Parker closed in on the woman, she stopped her vehicle, then placed it in reverse and drove backwards in an attempt to get away from him. Parker, however, continued to follow the woman in his own vehicle as she drove in reverse.

The two vehicles crashed into other vehicles on the road before finally coming to a stop. But at some time during the pursuit, police believe Parker accidentally shot himself while still in his car.

Nonetheless, an injured Parker emerged from his vehicle and opened fire as he chased after the woman. Witnesses say the woman was screaming, yelling that Parker was going to shoot her, as she frantically tried to run away from him.

Soon thereafter, Parker collapsed and bystanders administered CPR before he was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead.

The woman, who had a child in the car with her, was struck once by gunfire. The woman was treated and released and the child was uninjured.

[ Newark Advocate ]