A murder suspect shot and killed himself Tuesday while the U.S. Marshals Service was attempting to serve a warrant, according to the Nash County Sheriff's Office.

Nash County Deputy Sheriff Kevin Bissette said the sheriff’s office and U.S. Marshals Service attempted to serve a “high-risk arrest warrant” on Tuesday for the suspect, Donald Fields.

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Bissette said Fields had “history of violent tendencies and prior weapons and narcotics charges.”

“Fields was also wanted in the state of Connecticut as an absconder and also in the state of New York in association with a second-degree murder charge,” Bissette said.

The shooting was reported before 8 a.m. at a home in a rural, wooded area along Crabtree Lane, near Castalia.

Sheriff Keith Stone said Fields ran out of his car and into the woods before shooting himself in the head. The U.S. Marshals did not fire a shot, and no law enforcement officers were injured.

Authorities pronounced Fields dead at the scene. Fields was 40 years old, Stone said.

Bissette said first responders tried to save Fields after he shot himself.

Stone said Fields also had an outstanding warrant for not fulfilling his parole or probation after a stay in prison.

Sky 5 flew over the scene between 8:15 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. A group of officers, some wearing vests, surrounded a vehicle, and crime scene tape surrounded the property.

“He had moved here,” Sheriff Keith Stone said of Fields. “I guess he was an absconder on the run [and he] moved to this residence.

“And, we have just found out shortly that this house also had another federal fugitive in it. And, he’s in custody at this time also for federal weapons violations from Connecticut or New York.”

Stone said Fields was related the other man in custody. Authorities found cocaine, fentanyl, heroin and two guns in the home.

On Tuesday, Stone commended the U.S. Marshals Service.

“They go out and get the most dangerous individuals that other law enforcement agencies are not equipped to handle,” Stone said. “They track down very bad people and take them into custody.

“It’s a very dangerous job, probably one of the most dangerous jobs in federal enforcement because they could get the worst of the worst.”

Stone spoke specifically about why authorities were looking for Fields.

“This individual here had a murder conviction and [a] full 20 years in prison,” Stone said. “[He] goes back and commits another murder allegedly in New York, and we have warrants on him for second-degree murder.”

Stone said the sheriff’s office received notification on Monday night from the U.S. Marshals Service about Fields’ location.

“One thing I’d like the public to understand is, yes, this man did commit suicide,” Stone said. “Look at the families that it touches.

“Look at the law enforcement officers that [have] to go home and be with their families tonight and relive the situation for the rest of their life, seeing someone shoot themselves in the head in front of them.”

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation was notified about the incident.

Lee Rainey, who lives nearby, said that he met a deputy at the end of his driveway to ask what was happening. 

"He told me it was an active investigation," Rainey said. 

Rainey said he has lived there 29 years and never had any incidents like this.

"On a normal day, everything is perfect," Rainey said. "This is private. We have 12 acres here."

Mental health resource guide

If you're having suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis, call or text 988 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. Veterans can press “1” after dialing 988 to connect directly to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline. For texts, veterans should continue to text the Veterans Crisis Lifeline short code: 838255.