Harrisburg police were involved in a fatal standoff with a murder suspect on Tuesday (December 10) at a gas station on North Cameron Street. The incident began when police attempted to arrest Santiago Gutierrez, a 29-year-old suspect wanted for the murder of 25-year-old Jhonny Torres. Gutierrez allegedly rammed a tractor-trailer into police vehicles in an attempt to escape.
According to Local21News, the standoff escalated into a shootout after Gutierrez fired at officers. Police returned fire, resulting in Gutierrez's death. No officers were injured during the incident.
The Dauphin County District Attorney, Fran Chardo, confirmed that the police had received a tip from Penbrook police about the suspect's location, leading to the confrontation. The Harrisburg Bureau of Police Commissioner Thomas Carter praised the officers' bravery, stating, "As a police officer, you have to be prepared every second of the day that things change."
Chief Joseph Hogarth of the Penbrook Police Department expressed regret over the loss of life, calling the incident "very tragic." The district attorney's office will continue to investigate the shooting to determine if the use of force was justified.