It was a massive manhunt that led nearly 100 deputies to a Southwest Onslow County neighborhood Thursday night and ended with a murder suspect taking his own life in the presence of deputies.

Thursday night 30 year old Anthony Bowen, took his own life behind two trailers. Bowen is the suspect in the death of New Hanover County Detention Officer Tarica Pulliam. We talked to neighbors about the incident, who say the drama that unfolded Thursday, sent shockwaves through the small community. We also talked with an employee of a nearby mini mart who says Bowen, was actually dating a woman that lives in the trailer. And it was behind that trailer where Bowen committed suicide.

New Hanover County Sheriff Sid Causey said the gun Bowen used to kill himself, was also the same large caliber gun he allegedly used to kill Pulliam on Wednesday.

ORIGINAL STORY:
Deputies say the suspect in the death of a New Hanover County detention officer shot and killed himself this afternoon in Onslow County.

Lawmen tell WITN News that Anthony Bowen shot himself in front of officers in some woods off of Blue Creek School Road.

Deputies had received information earlier that Bowen might be in Onslow County.

Bowen was wanted for killing a New Hanover County detention officer Wednesday morning. Officer Tarica Ann Pulliam was found shot outside her home in Wilmington yesterday morning.

New Hanover County Sheriff Sid Causey tells us that Bowen had dug a hole in the woods behind two trailers with a supply of drinks and food. He says when Bowen spotted two of his deputies, he yelled "Hey guys, I'm over here." Causey says as his officers approached, Bowen put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger.

Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown told WITN that there was a massive manhunt for Bowen.

Brown says 75 New Hanover deputies and 20 Onslow County deputies were part of the manhunt for Bowen this afternoon.