SCRANTON, Pa. — A multi-county police pursuit stemming from a stolen firearm and a mental health crisis ended in a fatal officer-involved shooting near the Scranton Expressway on Sunday night, state police said.
Christian Santiago, 20, died at Geisinger Community Medical Center following the standoff, which brought together multiple law enforcement agencies across Susquehanna and Lackawanna counties.
According to a news release from the Pennsylvania State Police, the incident began on Sunday, Sept. 7, when Scranton Police initiated an investigation into a burglary. Investigators allege Santiago stole a .30-06 rifle from a relative’s residence. Concerns grew after Santiago sent a photograph of the rifle alongside ammunition to a family member, prompting his family to obtain an involuntary mental health commitment warrant.
Scranton Police initially attempted to pull Santiago over, but he fled the scene in a black Ford Focus.
At approximately 8:37 p.m., state troopers spotted the vehicle at the Penn Can Travel Plaza in Susquehanna County. Santiago again fled, initiating a high-speed pursuit south on Interstate 81 that traversed several Lackawanna County communities. State police ultimately brought the pursuit to an end near the entrance of the Scranton Expressway by executing a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) maneuver.
During the subsequent felony vehicle stop, police said Santiago displayed a rifle out of the driver's side window and refused to comply with officers' commands. A gunshot was then heard coming from inside the vehicle, prompting state troopers to discharge their weapons into the car.
Members of the PSP Special Emergency Response Team (SERT), Scranton Special Operations Group (SOG), and the Lackawanna County SWAT Team extracted Santiago from the vehicle. He was rushed to Geisinger Community Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
The PSP Troop R Major Case Team, supported by Troop R Forensic Services and the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Specialist (CARS) unit, is currently investigating to determine whether the fatal shot originated from inside the vehicle or from state police rounds.
Authorities emphasized that the investigation remains active and ongoing, adding that there is no active threat to the public.
