Man dead at Mo. hotel after shootout with police

WENTZVILLE, Mo. -- A 54-year-old man is dead after a shootout with police at a motel in the eastern Missouri town of Wentzville, but authorities aren't yet sure if he was killed by police fire or took his own life.

Authorities say Mark Curl of Wentzville was at the Economy Inn along Interstate 70 Thursday morning. Relatives asked police to check on him.

Police say that when three officers knocked on the door, the man began shooting at them through the door. Officers fired back.

Police pushed the door open about two hours later and found Curl dead of a bullet wound.

The officers were not struck in the exchange.