Authorities say two people are dead after a domestic dispute, a homicide, and a subsequent shootout with law enforcement officers Wednesday afternoon. 

Two innocent bystanders were injured in the shootout in Saline County.

Officials say Ty C. Arnold, suspected of killing his wife in St Joseph, was spotted by a Lafayette County deputy and pursued by officers into Saline County. 

It’s not yet clear if Arnold shot himself, or was killed when officers returned fire.

His wife, 27-year-old Amanda Arnold, was killed during an apparent domestic dispute at about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at their home at 2010 North Second in St Joseph.

Authorities in St Joe released a photograph and asked for the public’s help locating her husband.

Sergeant Bill Lowe of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Troop A, picks up the story in this telephone interview.

[audio:http://www.stjosephpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/SHOOTOUT-long-form.mp3|titles=SHOOTOUT long form]

Sergeant Lowe says as officers tried to pull him over, Arnold turned off the interstate on US-65 in Saline County.

Troopers had set up spike strips but the suspect made a u-turn to avoid them and headed north on US-65.  Lowe says he opened fire on officers, firing indiscriminately as he sped down the highway.  Officers returned fire in the chase.

A short time later, Lowe says a tire on the suspect’s vehicle deflated, either from turning around in the median, or from being hit by the officers’ gunfire.

Arnold then left the vehicle and traded gunfire with the officers.  He returned to the vehicle, where he was later found dead from a gunshot wound.  It is not yet clear if that wound was self-inflicted or fired by officers.

Lowe says a man and a woman in a semi tractor-trailer were caught in the crossfire during the gunfight, and were injured.  They were taken to the hospital for treatment.