The suspect in a recent sexual assault fatally shot himself following a brief police pursuit south of Sunriver Friday afternoon.

Gary Ray Salser, 52, of Bend, shot himself in the head while in the driver’s seat of his car as Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office deputies approached during a traffic stop near Oregon Water Wonderland on South Century Drive.

Capt. Tim Edwards said Salser had been identified as the suspect in a sexual assault that happened about a week ago. Deputies were on Vandervert Road near Salser’s home at around 3:20 p.m. Friday when they spotted Salser in his vehicle and attempted to pull him over.

Salser sped off, heading west on Vandervert and then on to South Century Drive, where he turned on to Swan Road and stopped.

The pursuit lasted just six minutes, Edwards said.

Edwards said the Sheriff’s Office does not anticipate releasing any additional information about the sexual assault

“I’m sure we’ll have more out about that later, but that investigation is still under investigation even though he’s deceased now,” he said.

Deputies briefly closed South Century Drive after Salser shot himself, anticipating the landing of a helicopter to transport him for treatment. However, medics arriving on the scene declared Salser dead.

The sheriff’s office has handed off the investigation of Salser’s suicide to Oregon State Police, the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office and the medical examiner.