TILLICUM, Wash. (AP) — A dozen police officers shot and killed a homicide suspect during a gun battle along Interstate 5 in Washington state Saturday morning, authorities said.

The man, in his 40s, had killed his girlfriend as she worked at a nursing facility in University Place, near Tacoma, at about 6:15 a.m., said Pierce County Sheriff's Detective Ed Troyer. Police soon spotted him and chased his vehicle southbound on I-5 as he shot at them.

The suspect exited the highway and then got back on heading north, at which point the pursuing officers forced his car to spin out near an exit for Tillicum, said Lakewood Police Lt. Chris Lawler.

The man took cover behind his vehicle and engaged police in a shootout, Lawler said. Twelve officers from three agencies — Lakewood and Steilacoom police, as well as the sheriff's department — shot back, killing him.

No officers were injured in the gunfire, Lawler said.

The highway was closed in the area for the investigation.