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Man shot and killed by police in Lehigh County identified

Published  August 7, 2018 2:04pm EDT
U.S.
FOX 29 Philadelphia

SOUTH WHITEHALL, Pa. (AP/WTXF) - Officials have identified the man shot and killed by police in Lehigh County on Saturday.

Police say 44-year-old Joseph Santos, of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, was damaging cars and interfering with traffic in South Whitehall Township around 5:45 p.m. Saturday.

Witnesses said the man had broken the window of one vehicle and done other damage before being confronted by a police officer. That officer later opened fire, striking Santos at least once.

Santos was taken to a local hospital where he died from his injuries. An autopsy is planned for Tuesday.

The district attorney, a county homicide task force and state police are investigating. The officer who fatally shot Santos is on administrative leave, which the police chief says is standard practice during such investigations.