The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has identified a man shot and killed by Ridgeland police after a Jan. 2 chase involving a stolen vehicle as Michael Van Loftin.

Lt. Col. David Shaw, MBI director, said Loftin, 50, also went by the name of Michael Shelton. Shaw said Lofton’s last known address was Fort Smith, Ark.

Ridgeland Police Sgt. Brian Myers had said following the shooting that the chase started after officers spotted a white Ford Ranger pickup that had been reported stolen in Texas.

Myers said the chase ended when police were able to cut the suspect off.

Ridgeland Police Chief Jimmy Houston said at the time that witnesses told investigators the the man fired at officers first. Houston said officers returned fire and killed the man.

Myers said the man was armed with two pistols.

No officers were injured.