Liberty County Shooting: Manhunt Ends After Suspect Kills Self

CLEVELAND, TX — The manhunt for a man who was accused of killing a woman and shooting three others, including a Liberty County Sheriff's deputy ended Wednesday after police found the suspect dead from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound, officials confirmed.

Pavol Vido, 65, had been the subject of a manhunt since 7 a.m., when he allegedly shot a woman to death and wounded two others inside the B Dependable Plumbing store, located at 26311 Highway 321 in Cleveland.

Vido, who was in the process of being evicted from a metal building behind the plumbing store, was fleeing the store when Liberty County Deputy Richard Whitten was pulling up in answer to a 911 call, officials said.

Whitten pursued Vido to the Big Thicket Veterinary Clinic, about two miles north of the B Reliable Plumbing store.

Investigators said Vido began shooting, and Whitten got out of his patrol car and returned fire. During the brief gun battle, Whitten was shot once in the neck.

Whitten, a 4- year department veteran, was flown to Memorial Hermann Hospital by LifeFlight and is listed in stable condition.

Investigators found Vido's car near a home off of FM 321. Police surrounded the home, but Vido was not inside. Several hours later, police found Vido's body in the woods behind the home.

Schools in Tarkington ISD and Cleveland ISD were on lockdown while police searched for Vido.

Stay with Patch for this is a developing story.

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