PENN TWP — The man who authorities say died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound early this morning following a police chase was wearing body armor.

He also had a semi-automatic rifle strapped around his neck. In his waist band, another handgun.

“He was preparing to do something,” said Middlesex Township police Sgt. Randy Ruediger, “but we don’t know what. And we may never know.”

It was not immediately known if Zachary Carr, 28, of Allison Park, Allegheny County left any note or other message to explain his actions. But he made a final statement to police: “Tell my girlfriend I love her.”

State police, who are investigating, did not rule out that Carr may have wanted to commit “suicide by cop” before deciding to turn the gun on himself.

Earlier Tuesday night or this morning, authorities said, Carr had gotten into some kind of altercation with his girlfriend in the Pittsburgh area.

He later drove his pickup truck to Butler County.

Middlesex Township police officer Alyssa Mathews was working a Butler County DUI Task Force detail on Route 8 near the Mystic Lanes bowling alley about 1 a.m. when she saw the truck speed by, authorities said.

Carr revved his engine as he passed Mathews, said Trooper James Long.

She took off after him eventually activating her emergency lights and siren. Carr, however, did not stop.

He eventually came up upon Middlesex police officer Bryan Costanzo, who was pulled on the east berm of Route 8, having made an unrelated traffic stop.

Long said investigators believe Carr intentionally swerved toward the police car or the officer standing near it.

“He had to jump up on the back of the [cruiser’s] trunk to get out of the way,” Ruediger said of Costanzo. The officer was not injured.

Costanzo’s dash camera video showed the truck sideswiping the cruiser.

A full report will appear in tomorrow's Butler Eagle.