Crime & Safety

Cranberry Police Continue Shooting Investigation, Expect to Release New Details

The vehicle 19-year-old Lagene Lawson was driving smashed into the Lane Bryant store early Saturday. Lawson shot himself while behind the wheel in Cranberry during a police pursuit.

Cranberry Township authorities are expected to release new details in their continuing investigation into what led 19-year-old Lagene Lawson to into the Cranberry Commons shopping center early Saturday morning.

Lawson, of New Castle, killed himself while still behind the wheel of his moving vehicle. The vehicle crashed into the store, causing extensive damage.

Adams Township police attempted to stop the driver around 3:15 a.m. after Lawson sped past an officer near Mars Area High School on Route 228. As Cranberry police joined in the pursuit, Lawson turned into the shopping center, where he fired a single, fatal gunshot.

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Officers on the scene were able to put out a small fire that erupted under the vehicle after it smashed though the glass entrance of the women’s retail store. Lawson was the only person in the vehicle.

Cranberry Sgt. Chuck Mascellino said are awaiting results of toxicology reports in the incident.

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Investigators are still putting together a timeline of Lawson's actions Saturday, he said. He would not speculate on what may have motivated Lawson to shoot himself.

According to the New Castle News, Lawson was wanted in connection with a drive-by shooting near St. Paul Baptist Church in July. District Judge Jennifer L. Nicholson had issued a warrant for Lawson’s arrest on charges of aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person in the incident, according to online court records.

Cranberry Police are expected to release more details in the incident shortly, Mascellino said. Check back with Cranberry Patch for updates to this story.


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