COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A serial rape suspect who died after a police pursuit, crash and shooting this week died as a result of gunshot wounds, authorities said Thursday.
According to the Fairfield County coroner, Abram Bynum sustained gunshot wounds to the hands, head and chest area.
The coroner said the injuries sustained in the crash were relatively minor and non-life-threatening.
Bynum was shot after a police pursuit that began Tuesday at about 4 p.m. at Beechwood and Main and continued onto Interstate 70 on the city's east side.
During the pursuit, Bynum crossed the median and collided head-on with a tanker truck.
When officers approached the suspect, he was still moving and appeared to be reaching for a weapon and was shot by police. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Bynum is the suspected High Desert Rapist, who is believed to be responsible for a series of rapes in Los Angeles County from 2004 to 2007.
As a result of DNA testing, Bynum's DNA was matched to five rapes in L.A. County. Additional evidence, Columbus police said, allegedly linked the suspect to three other rapes.
According to an L.A. detective, authorities had planned to come to Columbus and take Bynum back to L.A.
Columbus police said that they are investigating whether the suspect committed rapes in Columbus.
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