HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- A suspect led Montgomery County law enforcement on a wild high-speed chase Thursday afternoon. The chase turned into a running gun battle with the suspect firing several shots at pursing officers and ramming patrol cars along the way.

It ended at a rock quarry in Huntsville where deputies shot the suspect.

The pursuit began about 5 p.m. when the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office issued an “attempt to locate” call for a maroon pickup truck. A short time later, a Montgomery County sheriff's deputy and two Pct. 1 deputy constables spotted the truck on FM 1097 just outside of Willis.

As police gave chase, the suspect took off on Interstate 45 North. Sheriff's investigators said 21-year-old Casey F. Brunette of Brenham shot out his truck's back window and shot at pursing officers.

Montgomery County Sheriff spokesman Lt. Dan Norris said one deputy suffered a severe eye injury when a gunshot from the suspect busted through the windshield of the deputy's car. Authorities also said that a civilian's vehicle was struck during the chase.

The chase eventually carried into Walker County where Huntsville police joined in the pursuit. When Brunette was cornered at the 16th Street rock quarry, deputies said he rammed a deputy constable's vehicle. That's when officers opened fire on his vehicle.

Brunette was wounded and was transported by Life Flight air ambulance to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston.

Authorities initially reported he had died, but family members and the hospital confirmed he was still alive Friday morning.

Norris said it was not confirmed if officers' shot Brunette, or if he had turned his gun on himself while cornered in the rock quarry.

Three Montgomery County deputy constables suffered minor injuries in the chase and were treated and released from an area hospital.

The Texas Rangers are investigating the chase and shooting, Norris said.