Driver dead, passenger still on the run after Wake County chase

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The Wake County Sheriff's Office is looking for a person involved in a chase in Raleigh on Wednesday night.

On Wednesday at 8:30 p.m., a deputy saw a car driving recklessly on East Williams Street near US-1, running multiple cars off the road.

When the deputy attempted to pull that car over, the driver refused to stop. The chase eventually ended on Tryon Road near Yates Mill Pond Road when the driver ran off the road and crashed into a tree. That's when a passenger jumped out of the car and ran.

When deputies arrived at the crashed car, they found the driver dead from what they said was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The driver was later identified as Jonah Alexander Luker, 21.

Deputies said Luker was driving a white Mercedes Benz. The vehicle was not reported stolen, but it did have a fictitious license plate.

ABC11 spoke with a woman who lives in the area and was trying to get home to her husband. She said her husband heard rustling in the bushes behind their home when he saw officers with assault rifles and a large presence trying to track down the passenger who ran off.

Another resident who lives in the area said he was attempting to get home to his mother and little brother when he was stopped and is in a parking lot away from his loved ones.

"Very anxious. Very anxious, because whatever happened again, I don't know what exactly happened, but whatever happened, this could have been my mom on the street. This could have been me on my street. This going to meet my little brother on the street. And if it's not safe out here, you've got to feel anxious. You got to have your family safe," he said.

Anyone who sees anything suspicious is asked to call 911.