![\"Police](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789177832_324_7a5c0ef5-d5a2-457d-8203-65cfacac42d9-PolicepursuitendsinafatalshootingontheNorthScrantonExpressway.p.png\")
<\/p>\nSCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) \u2014 A 20-year-old man died following a multi-agency police pursuit that ended with gunfire near the Scranton Expressway Sunday night, according to Pennsylvania State Police.<\/p>\n
State police identified the man as Christian Santiago, 20.<\/p>\n
The incident began earlier Sunday when Scranton Police investigated a burglary in which Santiago allegedly stole a .30-06 rifle from a relative’s home.<\/p>\n
Police said Santiago later sent a family member a photograph of the rifle and ammunition. His family subsequently obtained an involuntary mental health commitment warrant.<\/p>\n
Scranton Police attempted to stop Santiago, who allegedly fled in a black Ford Focus.<\/p>\n
At approximately 8:37 p.m., Pennsylvania State Police located the vehicle at the Penn Can Travel Plaza in Susquehanna County.<\/p>\n
A pursuit followed south on Interstate 81 and continued through several Lackawanna County communities.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Police pursuit ends in a fatal shooting on the North Scranton Expressway<\/p>\n
State police said the pursuit ended near the beginning of the Scranton Expressway after troopers performed a PIT maneuver, a pursuit intervention technique used to force a fleeing vehicle to stop.<\/p>\n
During the felony traffic stop that followed, police said Santiago displayed a rifle through the driver’s-side window and did not comply with officers’ commands.<\/p>\n
Investigators said a gunshot was then heard from inside Santiago’s vehicle.<\/p>\n
State police subsequently fired rounds into the vehicle.<\/p>\n
Members of the Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency Response Team, Scranton Police Special Operations Group and Lackawanna County SWAT Team removed Santiago from the vehicle.<\/p>\n
He was taken to Geisinger Community Medical Center, where he later died.<\/p>\n
Investigation will determine source of fatal shot<\/p>\n
State police have not determined whether the gunshot that killed Santiago came from inside his vehicle or from police gunfire.<\/p>\n
The PSP Troop R Major Case Team is investigating with assistance from Troop R Forensic Services and the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Specialist unit.<\/p>\n
Investigators are working to determine the origin of the gunshot that caused Santiago’s fatal injury.<\/p>\n
The investigation remains ongoing.<\/p>\n
State police said there was no threat to the public.<\/p>\n
Rt 11 was closed all night Monday into late Tuesday morning. The road has since reopened.<\/p>\n