VIDEO: CA Carjacking Suspect Who Stole Patrol Car Killed at End of Vehicle Pursuit

A suspected prowler and carjacker crashed a stolen SUV and died early Thursday after deputies opened fire on him during a pursuit through Poway, CA, authorities reported.

It was not immediately clear if the unidentified man succumbed to gunshot trauma, from injuries he suffered in the crash or both, according to San Diego County Sheriff's officials.

The incident began shortly before 5 a.m., when someone reported seeing a man peering into parked vehicles in a suspicious manner at an auto-repair shop in the 13900 block of Poway Road.

Shortly after patrol personnel arrived at the business to investigate, they radioed that shots had been fired and that a suspect had taken a sheriff's cruiser and was fleeing to the east in it, Lt. Kenneth Nelson told CBS 8 .

Deputies pursued the suspect to an area near the intersection of Poway and Espola roads, where he abandoned the stolen law enforcement vehicle. He then carjacked an SUV, Nelson said.

Moments later, deputies confronted the suspect and fired on him again, and the stolen vehicle veered off the roadway and crashed into a ravine.