One man was dead after a shooting and pursuit through Poway early Thursday, San Diego County Sheriff's Department said.

Authorities have not released his name because the family has not been notified yet.

NBC 7 spoke to some people who knew him who told us that he had recently been released from jail and was trying to turn his life around. They said he had a job and was going to church.

They don't know what went wrong.

Poway resident David Delikat heard several shots fired near Poway Road and Adah Lane at 5 a.m. When he heard a law enforcement officer order someone to get on the ground, Delikat began recording video with his phone.

“It sounded like the police officer was shooting a pistol,” Delikat said. “The other guys sounded like they were armed with assault rifles. It was incredible.”

Deputies responded to a report of suspicious activity in the parking lot of an auto repair store, San Diego County Sheriff’s Lt. Kenn Nelson said.

Within several minutes, deputies reported shots fired. Deputies fired their weapons at the scene, Nelson said.

The suspect jumped into a deputy's patrol car traveling eastbound on Poway Road to Espola Road, Nelson said.

At that intersection, deputies say the suspect got out and carjacked a private citizen driving a black SUV.

"Based on the initial victim statement the suspect did get out of the patrol car, did have a handgun and carjacked him and took his black SUV," Nelson said.

When the deputies caught up to the SUV, shots were fired again, Nelson said.

About 100 yards away from the intersection of the carjacking, the SUV veered off the road and down into a ravine.

The suspect was found dead behind the wheel of the vehicle, Nelson said. An autopsy would determine the cause of death, he said.

Nelson described the suspect as 25 to 35 years old.

Deputies found a hatchet, several knives, and loose ammunition for what may be a handgun.

Nelson said deputies found a gun in the carjacked SUV after they went down the ravine to try to render aid to the suspect.

Four deputies were involved in the shooting but it’s unclear who fired weapons, Nelson said.

“There are two different distinct scenes where shots were fired by deputies,” Nelson said. He added that there are no reports of the suspect firing at the deputies but added it’s early in the investigation and deputies have not been interviewed.

An NBC 7 news crew found an Toyota Sequioa with several bullet holes and shattered glass near the initial scene.

The deputies have not determined how the Sequoia was connected to the incident.

As of 2:20 p.m., Poway Road just west of Espola was still closed in both directions.