UPDATE: Suspect accused of shooting Abilene officer dead after 9-hour standoff

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – A suspect accused of shooting an Abilene police officer was found dead after a 9-hour-long standoff Thursday night.

James Wesley Key, 49, was found dead around 2:00 a.m. Friday after law enforcement finally entered a home on the 600 block of Locust Street. Police say he suffered an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

SWAT Team members initially surrounded the home around 5:00 p.m. after receiving information Key may be inside.

From there, a standoff ensued where police tried to use non-lethal force to subdue Key, who did fire a weapon several times during ongoing negotiations.

“Police attempted using chemical munitions and less lethal impact munitions to come to a peaceful resolution,” a press release from the Abilene Police Department explains. “Due to the known danger an armored vehicle was used to gain better access to the structure without putting officers in harm’s way.”

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Rangers, and the Lubbock County SWAT team all assisted in the standoff with Key.

Key is accused of shooting an officer after a traffic stop in the Impact area of Abilene Tuesday night. He fled the scene, instigating a multi-day manhunt involving serval agencies with the assistance of helicopters and drones.

No further information is available at this time.