Suspect Killed While Trying To Flee Major Deegan Construction Zone
NEW YORK (CBS 2) – More details are surfacing in the shooting death of man who witnesses say was trying to flee from cops but got caught in construction zone traffic late Friday night.
Witness Ester Melendez said the suspect's car got boxed in when it entered the construction zone on the Major Deegan Expressway in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx.
"We were telling him to stop and he wouldn't," she said. "I guess they felt he was going to hurt more people, and that's when they finally started shooting."
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The suspect's SUV was then riddled with bullets as the Melendez family took cover in their car. Officers fired a total of 19 shots at the SUV, killing Santos.
"I was real shocked and afraid. I'm still shaking right now," Melendez' nephew said.
The shooting happened near 135th Street along the Major Deegan Expressway past Willis Avenue. EMS officials said four others were transported to Lincoln Hospital for injuries.
One witness told CBS 2 that the accident and shooting was the result of a police chase.
"The police were chasing the guy and he was trying to force his way through traffic," the witness said.
Police said Santos was wanted on an outstanding drug warrant.
The investigation is ongoing and officials told tow truck operators that they would need to tow at least four cars from the scene.
