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Search Underway for Inmate Brother of Man Who Shot Himself in Cranberry Police Pursuit

Durand Lawson was released from jail unattended to go his brother Lagene Lawson’s funeral Saturday.

 

New Castle police are looking for the brother of Lagene Lawson, the driver who fatally shot himself after a high-speed chase in Cranberry last week.

Durand Lawson, 20, failed to return after being released from jail in Lawrence County Saturday to attend his brother’s funeral in New Castle. A felony arrest warrant was issued Monday for the 20-year-old, who had been awaiting trial on drug-related charges.

New Castle Police Chief Bobby Salem said Durand Lawson had made comments that he felt police in Cranberry were responsible for his brother’s death, the New Castle News reports. The chief did not know of any direct threats Durand Lawson made to Cranberry police, the report said.

“He made comments that his brother would not have ‘gone out’ like that,” Salem told the New Castle News.

On Monday, Cranberry Sgt. Chuck Mascellino said Cranberry police have not received any overt threats. He said Cranberry officers were notified Saturday that Durand Lawson was missing.

Cpl. Troy Christie said state police at Butler also were alerted of Durand Lawson’s failure to return to jail because his brother died in Butler County.

According to Cranberry Police, 19-year-old Lagene Lawson fatally shot himself in the head Aug. 4 while behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle. Police had pursued him into the Cranberry Commons shopping center on Route 228 after a chase that began near Mars Area High School. The vehicle crashed into the Lane Bryant store, causing extensive damage.

Judge Dominick Motto granted the motion that Durand Lawson be furloughed from the jail from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, for the funeral, according to the New Castle . He left the jail unattended and did not return when scheduled to do so.

Durand Lawson is described as a black male, 5-feet-10 inches tall and weighing about 160 pounds, according to police. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call New Castle police at 724-656-9300.

Related Topics: Crime, Durand Lawson, Escape, Lagene Lawson, Threats, and cranberry police

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