May 14, 8:24 PM EDT


Two suspects dead after police pursuit on Interstate 8

STANFIELD, Ariz. (AP) -- Two men who led law enforcement agents on a lengthy pursuit on Interstate 8 Wednesday morning were found dead inside after their car was disabled and authorities said it appeared to be a murder-suicide.

The dead men were brothers who had been sought since they reportedly carjacked a couple and took their white Dodge sedan at the Grand Canyon on Monday night, said Pinal County Sheriff's spokesman Mike Minter.

Minter said officers approaching the white Dodge Caliber after it was disabled by spike strips heard gunshots and later confirmed both died of bullet wounds. No officers fired or were hurt.

"It appears one man in the vehicle shot the other guy and then turned the weapon on himself," Minter said.

Minter said the men were identified as Travis N. "T-Bo" Twiggs, 36, and Willard J. "Will" Twiggs, 38.

Authorities from the National Park Service had been searching for the brothers since two men stole a car at gunpoint from two people Monday night at the Grand Canyon National Park. The men had crashed their own car several hours earlier but walked away carrying backpacks.

Travis Twiggs was recently an active-duty member of the military based at the Marine Corps base at Quantico, Va., said national park spokeswoman Shannan Marcak. He suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and was reported to be unpredictable. Will Twiggs was from Louisiana.

Wednesday's incident began when the men were stopped at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint near Welton in southwestern Arizona. Minter said agents became suspicious and ordered the men to pull over for additional inspection, but they took off.

Border Patrol agents gave chase, joined by officers and deputies from several state, county and Indian tribal police agencies during the 130-mile pursuit. An officer with the Tohono O'odham Nation police deployed spike strips near the town of Stanfield about 40 miles south of Phoenix, flattening the tires on the Dodge.

The driver kept going for about a mile before the car veered off the Interstate and hit a small tree.

After shots were heard, officers backed off until agents in helicopters determined both men appeared to be dead.

Federal officials said it is possible the men were trying to commit suicide during the initial accident.

"There were strong indications at the accident site that they may have been trying to drive into the canyon," Marcak said. "But I think part of that is just where the vehicle was located."

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