MAHONING VALLEY Police say rape suspect took own life

The man initially agreed to surrender to police.
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 32-year-old Leetonia man committed suicide when officers attempted to arrest him on a warrant for felony rape, police said.
Youngstown police said they received a tip that John C. Piscitelli of Applesway Road, wanted on the rape charge by Columbiana police, was at a home in the 1600 block of Thalia Avenue.
What happened
Six officers surrounded the house about 12:30 p.m. Sunday, and one knocked on the door. A woman with a boy answered the door and complied with the officer's request to leave the house.
About 20 minutes later, after two more officers arrived, police called Piscitelli on the telephone. The Leetonia man agreed to come out in a few minutes, police said.
When he didn't, police said they called five minutes later, and left a message on the answering machine for him to surrender.
After five more minutes, officers called again and left another message.
About 1 p.m., four officers went inside the home and walked toward the bedroom, where Piscitelli was located, police said.
While heading toward the door, police said they heard a muffled pop sound and then saw blood coming from under the bedroom door.
Police said they kicked the door open and found Piscitelli, who had shot himself in the mouth.
The Mahoning County Coroner's Office is conducting an autopsy.