ONTARIO, OREGON: Daniela Perez, an Oregon woman was reported missing along with her vehicle on Tuesday afternoon, October 10. Her car was later located in a school parking lot in Ontario, Tuesday night, October 12.
Authorities found the 24-year-old woman inside her car. The death is reportedly a "criminal homicide" based on circumstances, according to the Malheur County District Attorney’s Office, reports People.
Who is Conner Fry?
Following Perez's death, investigators noticed surveillance footage of the "priority person of interest" leaving the parking lot.
The man was seen carrying a pink backpack in hand. He was spotted again the same day in nearby surveillance footage in which he was seen playing video game poker, according to authorities.
Police obtained a warrant for the arrest of the person of interest whose cell phone rang near a local shed. The man was identified as Connor Fry.
Did Connor Fry shoot himself to evade capture?
After Fry's location was confirmed, the Oregon State Police SWAT team surrounded the place.
Authorities saw the suspect coming out of a shed into a "dense vegetation nearby." They soon heard a single muffled gunshot, according to the district attorney’s office.
"The team confirmed over the radio that no member of law enforcement had fired any type of weapon," the district attorney’s office added in a press release.
The statement added that "not knowing what possible threat remained," police sprayed the area with pepper spray and fired "not deadly bullets" to "make Conner Fry come out of the vegetation."
However, Fry did not emerge from the bushes. Officers then approached his body, secured his wrists with zip ties and checked for a pulse.
The district attorney's office noted that police determined Fry had "no signs of life" and "appeared to have died from a self-inflicted shotgun wound."
The suspect also had additional rounds of ammunition concealed within his clothing.
Law enforcement authorities do not believe Fry was aware he was surrounded by the SWAT team at the time of his death, reported CBS 2.
Fry had a criminal past in Union County as he was known for being violent with police and as a property offender.
Foul play was suspected in the case after the victim was found in the car's trunk. Daniela appeared to have died from blunt trauma to the head, according to a medical examiner. However, an autopsy has not yet been performed, according to CBS 2.
