Coroner's Office ID's Benjamin Ashley as Suspect Killed After California Manhunt

— -- A gunman shot and killed by deputies Saturday night after leading police on a two-week manhunt in central California was identified today as 34-year-old Benjamin Ashley, an official told ABC News today.

The identification was made by the Coroner's Office, Raymond Pruitt of the Kern County Sheriff's Office told ABC News.

Saturday night, Ashley was armed with a handgun when he was fatally struck by two deputies on a rural road, officials said.

Ashley was on the run ever since he allegedly took three men hostage in July. Days later, authorities said they found the body of a man allegedly murdered by Ashley.

On Aug. 1, two SWAT team members were shot and wounded by a man while they searched the Kelso Valley for Ashley. One deputy was shot in both arms and the other was grazed, authorities said.

A clerk at a mini-mart helped bring the manhunt to an end this weekend, police said. He said a man matching Ashley's description entered the store, so he called police.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.