A man who allegedly robbed the Wachovia Bank in West Rome this morning died of a self inflicted gunshot wound after leading police on a chase that ended at the Steak 'N Shake parking lot, police said.

Ray Chastain said he witnessed the shooting after the suspect stopped at Steak 'N Shake.

Chastain said he saw the police approach the vehicle and saw the man shoot himself.

“He raised the gun and popped himself, that’s what it looked like to me,” Chastain said.

Chastain said the man had the gun in his right hand, which explains why driver’s side window was knocked out.

Police found a bullet casing an estimated 60 feet from the vehicle.

The suspect was described as a 6-foot Asian male dressed in blue jeans and gray shirt.

He robbed the Wachovia Bank, 2219 Shorter Avenue across the Gala Shopping Center, police said.

The suspect exited the bank and left in a blue car.

According to a reporter on scene, the robber, driving a powder blue Acura with Cobb County tags, collided with Rome K-9 unit on the passenger side. Airbags were deployed in the Acura.

Rome City Police Lt. Roy Willingham told reporters that the gunshot wound was self-inflicted. Police have called the coroner to the scene.

Preliminary 911 calls indicated the suspect was armed.

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