Police: One dead, one in custody after Darling Street shooting

Feb. 12—WILKES-BARRE — An early-morning shooting on Darling Street has left one woman dead and a suspect in custody, according to Wilkes-Barre City police.

Natanihel San Martin, 40, of Wilkes-Barre, was arrested early Sunday morning after he allegedly shot and killed a woman inside his Darling Street residence, according to the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department and the Luzerne County District Attorney's office.

The victim, identified in the police criminal complaint as Carla Pina, was pronounced dead at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center after being transported from the scene.

After an initial police update was posted to the department's Facebook page, the criminal affidavit filed against San Martin provided greater detail into the incident.

According to the complaint:

Officers were dispatched to 42 Darling St. shortly before 6 a.m. on Sunday for a reported female gunshot victim, with 911 dispatchers informing officers that the suspect was still on scene.

Upon arrival, officers encountered a female laying on the right side of the couch in the living room. Later identified as Pina, the victim was observed to have blood coming from her mouth, and appeared to be unresponsive.

San Martin was also still in the residence, screaming for assistance, according to the complaint. Police say that a witness also inside the residence told officers that San Martin was suspected of shooting Pina. He was detained by patrol officers at this time.

Officers began performing life-saving measures on the victim before she was transported to Geisinger Wyoming Valley, where she died of her injuries.

Two witnesses to the incident agreed to speak with investigators at Wilkes-Barre police headquarters.

According to witness testimony, Pina had returned home from an evening out at the casino with one of the witnesses, and the two were at San Martin's home with him and other witness celebrating.

According to the witness, San Martin drank "almost an entire bottle" of Hennessy in about a 15-minute time frame, and his demeanor changed, at one point slamming the bottle on the table and leaving the room unexpectedly.

At that time, San Martin went into the bedroom he shared with Pina, where a 3-year-old child was sleeping, and witnesses said that they heard what sounded like a gunshot.

After Pina went to investigate, a second gunshot was heard, and San Martin emerged from the room, carrying a firearm and acting irrationally, according to witness testimony.

Eventually, San Martin put the gun down, and it was hidden by one of the witnesses. San Martin then allegedly dragged the victim out in the living room, attempting CPR on her until officers arrived.

The second witness to the incident told investigators that they believed that San Martin may have misinterpreted part of the conversation leading up to the shooting.

This witness corroborates the first witness's testimoney regarding the events leading up to the two gunshots, and told investigators that they knew San Martin had a gun because he had shown it to them in the past.

A 15-year-old also inside the home at the time of the shooting told investigators that the victim and suspect had been arguing frequently and intensely over the last six weeks.

Investigators obtained a warrant for the residence, and recovered a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, later confirmed to be owned by San Martin. Other evidence found during the search included a mostly consumed bottle of Hennessy, a gunshot hole in a mirror in the bedroom and a projectile in the bedroom dresser.

San Martin was taken back to police headquarters and, after being advised of his constitutional rights, allegedly told police the incident stemmed from a misunderstanding, and that he was upset with Pina for being all out day.

According to the criminal complaint, San Martin asked for a lawyer and stopped the interview, but then added "it wasn't intentional."

San Martin was arraigned Sunday afternoon in front of Magisterial District Judge Thomas Malloy. In addition to an open count of criminal homicide, he was also charged with endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering another person.

Bail was denied, and San Martin was lodged at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. in Luzerne County Central Court.