Covington police report that a man shot himself this afternoon after allegedly robbing Chip's Health Mart at Pace Street.

The man was breathing shallowly after shooting himself and was taken to Newton Medical Center, according to Covington Police Capt. Ken Malcom. The man's identity is not being released.

The robbery occurred about 1:15 p.m. when the man entered the store brandishing a handgun and demanded morphine. He fled the store with an undisclosed amount of medication, police reported.

The suspect was chased up Ga. Highway 142, then drove over to Ga. Highway 81 where he turned south again and then turned onto J. Roy Dial Road, a dead-end dirt road. He then shot himself, according to officers.