Man charged with attempted homicide during pursuit accused in Christmas Eve fatal shooting in Connecticut
Mar. 27—WILKES-BARRE — A man accused of fleeing Butler Township police and initiating a dangerous pursuit that involved a carjacking, a home invasion and shots fired at a motorist is scheduled for an extradition hearing in Luzerne County Court on a murder warrant from Connecticut.
Isaac D. Cintron, 32, addresses listed as Chicago, Ill., and New Haven, Conn., was charged by New Haven police this week with fatally shooting Heriberto Cotto, 43, on Dec. 24, 2024.
Police in New Haven allege Cintron and Cotto were engaged in an argument prior to the shooting. Cotto died at New Haven Medical Center upon arrival, police in New Haven reported.
Cintron has been jailed without bail at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility since his arrest near Barnsville, Schuylkill County, following a pursuit that began outside a Dunkin Donuts store on North Hunter Highway in Butler Township, Luzerne County, on Dec. 30.
Court records say Butler Township police encountered a Ford Explorer reported stolen by the Fairlawn, New Jersey, police department parked outside the Dunkin Donuts.
Cintron fled the scene and traveled east in the westbound lanes of Interstate 80 where he struck another vehicle, court records say.
Court records allege Cintron abandoned the Ford, walked toward a stopped vehicle and fired two shots at the driver, who reversed his vehicle. After firing the shots, court records say, Cintron ran into the Sand Springs housing community where he entered a residence on Refuge Circle by climbing through an open first floor window.
Once inside the house, Cintron allegedly threatened the homeowner with a firearm and demanded keys to their vehicle but was not able to start.
Cintron fled the house and allegedly carjacked a woman's Toyota Rav4 at gunpoint at Refuge Circle and Long Run Road, telling the woman to take her 3-year-old son with her.
State police troopers spotted Cintron and initiated a second pursuit on Interstate 80 and onto Route 54 where he was apprehended near Barnsville.
Cintron is facing 39 criminal offenses in Luzerne County Court including criminal attempt to commit criminal homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, reckless endangerment and theft.
A search of the stolen Ford recovered numerous drug related items, Cintron's Social Security card and a Chicago homeless card, a Connecticut identification card belonging to another person, numerous clothing items and a ski mask, according to the search warrant inventory receipt.
The search warrant affidavit says Cintron was "homeless" in New Haven, Conn., but due to an undisclosed incident, he left New Haven with intentions to visit a girlfriend in Chicago and stole the Ford while traveling through New Jersey.
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