A 20-year-old man died after a gunshot was heard inside his vehicle following a police pursuit Monday night, state police said.
Scranton police were investigating a burglary Monday where Christian Santiago allegedly stole a .30-06 rifle from a relative’s residence, troopers said.
After Santiago sent a family member a photograph of the rifle and ammunition, his family obtained an involuntary mental health commitment warrant, state police said.
Scranton police officers later attempted to stop Santiago, who fled in a black Ford Focus, troopers said.
Around 8:37 p.m., troopers located the vehicle at the Penn Can Travel Plaza in Susquehanna County and a pursuit continued south on Interstate 81 and through several Lackawanna County communities, police said.
The pursuit ended near the beginning of the North Scranton Expressway after the Pennsylvania State Police performed a PIT, or pursuit intervention technique, maneuver.
During the felony vehicle stop, Santiago displayed a rifle from the driver’s-side window and failed to comply with commands, troopers said.
A gunshot was heard from inside the vehicle, and then troopers discharged rounds into the vehicle, police said. Santiago was removed from the vehicle by members of PSP SERT, Scranton SOG, and the Lackawanna County SWAT Team.
Santiago was transported to Geisinger Community Medical Center, where he later died, state police said.
State police are working to determine the origin of the gunshot that caused Santiago’s fatal injury.
The investigation remains ongoing and there is no threat to the public, troopers said.
The Scranton Police Department announced on its Facebook page that the North Scranton Expressway — from Interstate 81 to Keyser Avenue — reopened around 7:53 a.m. after being closed Monday night for the incident.