SAN DIEGO – Police chased a carjacked sedan into a Claremont Mesa neighborhood early Saturday, and were chasing the car thief amongst houses when the man shot himself to death in a backyard.

San Diego Police said a shotgun-wielding man and an accomplice stole a black 2007 Chrysler 300 at gunpoint at about midnight Friday night in the 6200 block of Beadnell Way. One man, armed with a shotgun, demanded the keys and threatened to kidnap the owner before stealing the car.

About 45 minutes later, the men were spotted by police in the stolen Chrysler as it entered the Cabrillo (163) Freeway northbound at Friars Road . After a short pursuit, the car exited at Genesee Avenue, turned west and then turned left onto the first residential street west of the freeway.

After making another left turn onto Judson Street, the passenger bailed out of the moving vehicle, carrying the shotgun. He ran into the backyard of a house, where he shot himself in the head, authorities said.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was taken into custody.