DOJ: Man died of self-inflicted gunshot following multi-county chase
BROWNTOWN, Wis. — Investigators with the Wisconsin Department of Justice have determined that a man who died following a multi-county vehicle chase died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Authorities with DOJ’s Division of Criminal Investigation said a Lafayette County sheriff’s deputy fired their weapon during the incident as the man was driving toward the deputy, though officials did not say whether or not the deputy struck the man or his vehicle.
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In a separate news release shared Thursday afternoon, the Green County Coroner’s Office identified the man as 19-year-old Samuel Santiago of Milwaukee. Preliminary results from Santiago’s autopsy showed he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
According to the initial DCI news release, the chase — which went through Grant, Lafayette and Green counties — happened the afternoon of October 22 following an incident in Dubuque, Iowa.
During the chase, the Lafayette County sheriff’s deputy used a spike strip to stop Santiago, who then drove toward the deputy. According to the release, the deputy then fired their weapon while in Lafayette County.
Santiago then crashed in Green County an unknown amount of time later and ran off. While searching for him, authorities reportedly heard a gunshot and found Santiago near State Highway 11.
Law enforcement administered first aid, but the 19-year-old died at the scene. Authorities said they also recovered a gun at the scene.
The deputy who fired their weapon was put on administrative leave, per department policy. They have not yet been identified by DCI officials.
DCI officials said their investigation is ongoing.
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