Highway Patrol Spokesman Lt. Everett Clendenin said that Virginia State Police had been in pursuit of the man, whose identity has not been released, since about 10:05 a.m.
The chase, which reached speeds up to about 80 mph, had started in Virginia, but the man drove in to North Carolina, where state troopers stopped him along the shoulder of northbound I-95 south of Roanoke Rapids in Halifax County.
According to authorities, the man had been unresponsive to negotiators, and had been pointing a pistol at his head throughout the chase and negotiations.
"At some point, we made the determination that we would approach the vehicle in a safe manner and once we approached the vehicle we found that he was deceased," said Highway Patrol 1st Sgt R.T. Futrell.
Northbound I-95 between mile markers 168 (N.C. Highway 903) and 171 was closed for hours, causing traffic backups for at least 10 miles, as Halifax County authorities and the State Bureau of Investigation processed the scene. One lane reopened shortly after 1:30 p.m., and by 5:30 p.m., both lanes were cleared.
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