A homicide investigation first reported by the American Press Saturday morning has been ruled a murder-suicide by Lake Charles police.

Deputy Chief Franklin Fondel said officers were dispatched to the 600 block of E. LaGrange Street just before 11 p.m. Friday in reference to two 911 calls for shots fired.

Upon their arrival, Fondel said officers found an unresponsive male in the front passenger seat of a red 2019 Hyundai Sonata. The initial investigation and witness information revealed the estranged husband of the vehicle’s owner shot the man, later identified as 43-year-old Cory Kerlegan.

Fondel said Kerlegan was pronounced dead at the scene.

He said detectives determined the suspect kidnapped the vehicle’s owner at gunpoint and fled the scene in his vehicle, a silver 2018 Kia Optima. The suspect was identified as 43-year-old Malcolm Joseph Fontenot and the victim of the kidnapping was identified as 43-year-old Ulacier Fontenot.

A Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy spotted the Kia at about 11:35 p.m. in the area of La. 14 and Corbina Road. The deputy, after turning around, caught up to the vehicle on La. 14 as it approached Tom Hebert Road.

Franklin said the deputy attempted to make a traffic stop, but the suspect ran the red light at La. 14 and Tom Hebert Road and continued westbound on Red Davis McCollister Road, leading the deputy and LCPD officers on a high-speed pursuit.

As the suspect vehicle continued west on Red Davis McCollister Road, it slowed to make a northbound turn onto Common Street. At this time, the female victim was able to escape capture by jumping from the moving vehicle.

Deputies remained at this location to render aid to the victim until Acadian Ambulance and LCPD officers arrived on scene and transported her to a local hospital. She was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Other units from LCPD and CPSO continued to pursue the suspect vehicle north on Common Street before heading westbound on McNeese Street toward Weaver Road. The driver then led units northbound on Weaver Road towards Sale Road and at Sale the driver headed eastbound, approaching Nelson Road. Franklin said officers deployed spike strips on Sale Road in the area of Alma Lane. The suspect made contact with the strips and continued east on Sale Road before stopping his vehicle at Wooded Drive.

Upon his stop at about 11:43 p.m.,officers made multiple requests for the suspect to exit the vehicle. They received no response,so a safety perimeter was established and SWAT was called to the scene.

Upon their arrival, SWAT officers continued to call out to the suspect, asking him to exit the vehicle, Fondel said.

He said SWAT officers observed the suspect to be slumped over in the front seat. They approached the vehicle and discovered Malcolm Fontenot with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Acadian Ambulance, staged nearby, arrived on scene and pronounced Fontenot as deceased.

This remains an ongoing investigation of a murder-suicide, Fondel said.

Sgts. Willie Fontenot and  Larry Newingham are the lead investigators and anyone with additional information is asked to contact them by calling 337-491-1311.