Florida man accused of shooting, killing man in Melbourne found dead after police chase, officials say

MELBOURNE, Fla. - A 39-year-old man died Sunday after he was found shot in a parking lot, according to the Melbourne Police Department.

Police officers responded to a parking lot near Sarno Road and Croton Road around 11:16 p.m. and found an adult man lying in the parking lot. That man, later identified as Westly A. Lopes, of Melbourne, died at the scene, police said.

Police said Lopes was found in front of Mugs Pub, a local bar, but later clarified that the man was not associated with the bar nor was there evidence that he was at the bar Sunday night. 

In an update on Tuesday, police said the suspect, Michael Alan Smith, 42, of Melbourne, had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

According to the Melbourne Police Department, Smith and Lopes were passengers in a vehicle. The driver of the vehicle told the Palm Bay Police Department that Smith asked him to stop in a parking lot to meet with someone for an unknown reason. 

When Smith returned to the vehicle, he and Lopes got into an argument. During the dispute, Smith reportedly shot Lopes several times before pulling him out of the car and leaving him inside the bar's parking lot, police said.

The driver – who was in fear for their safety – drove Smith to Malabar Road and Interstate 95, where Smith got out. The driver then called police to report the shooting. 

Police searched the area but were unable to find Smith. A warrant was issued for his arrest.

Shortly before 3 a.m. Tuesday, a Florida Department of Agriculture officer spotted a car on I-95 north of Jacksonville that had been reported stolen in Brevard County. The officer followed the car being driven by Smith until it entered Georgia. 

Camden County deputies in Georgia intercepted the vehicle and tried to perform a traffic stop, but the car fled and a chase began.

During the chase, a deputy performed a "pursuit intervention technique" and the car ran off the road and crashed in a nearby wooded area.

Inside the car, they found Smith, who had shot himself, police said. He was the only person inside the vehicle. 

Georgia State Police are investigating the crash.

The homicide investigation remains ongoing.