STATESVILLE, N.C. -- A manhunt in Statesville ended in a shootout where both a deputy and a chase suspect suffered gunshot wounds early Tuesday.

Police, sheriff’s deputies and troopers said they spent about six hours trying to arrest William Welton Jr., 25, of Stella, N.C.

Troopers said the manhunt began when Welton led Wilkes County deputies on a chase that started on Highway 421 at about 12:30 a.m. after the suspect sped through a license checkpoint. Deputies called the Highway Patrol to take over the chase on Interstate 77.

The chase continued into Iredell County and Iredell County deputies joined troopers in the pursuit. Near where Interstate 40 meets Interstate 77, troopers put out stop-sticks to try to stop the driver. Troopers said Welton drove across the stop-sticks, but his car didn’t stop until it was between exits 50 and 49 near Broad Street in Statesville.

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Troopers said Welton jumped out of his car, turned around and fired several shots at authorities, but no one was hit. They said he then fled into the woods.

Officers called in a helicopter and police dogs to assist in the search for Welton but they were unable to find him. Iredell County sent out a reverse 911 call to area residents shortly after 1 a.m. to tell them to stay in their homes and lock doors and windows.

During the ground search, Interstate 77 was shut down for about three hours while investigators set up a parameter around the area where they believed Welton to be hiding. They also searched the car he left behind, a Ford 500.

Then, shortly before 6 a.m., authorities said they cornered Welton near Broad Street and Knox Street. They said Welton exchanged gunfire with officers and Iredell County Sgt. J.T. Smith was shot in the leg. Welton was shot in the face but his injury is not life-threatening.

Smith was treated and released from Iredell Memorial Hospital. He was able to return to the shooting scene to assist in the investigation.

Welton was checked out at the hospital before being placed in an ambulance to be transported to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem area. He was released from Baptist Hospital late Tuesday afternoon and was transported to the Iredell County Sheriff's Office.

Iredell County deputies charged Welton with attempted first-degree murder, felony assault on a law enforcement officer and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury. Statesville police, Wilkes County deputies and the Highway Patrol could also file charges.

Authorities at first said Welton was a convicted felon. While Welton was charged in Onslow County in March with fleeing to elude police, a felony, he has not yet been tried on the charge. His father, however, is a convicted felon.

Authorities said Welton has a revoked license, which is the only reason they see at this point for why he ran from deputies. His criminal record shows no serious charges. He was convicted of assault and several other misdemeanors in Virginia in 2005, and his North Carolina driver’s license was revoked in January.

The State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the chain of events.

The search for Welton was near two Iredell County school, Pressly School and Statesville Middle School. School officials at first canceled classes there, but then delayed the start of the first day of school until 10:15 a.m. when the suspect was apprehended.

Parents, teachers and students said although they were inconvenienced by the delay, they’re happy the area is now safe.

Investigators spent hours after the start of school in the area near the schools and the scene of the shootout. They said they were doing forensic work that required them to block off part of the neighborhood.