State police at Mansfield shot and killed a 34-year-old Old Forge man who brandished a pocketknife and refused to obey police commands early Thursday, according to a state police news release.

The deceased, identified as Charles Brandon Costanzo, was a suspect in several robberies in New York state, according to police.

He was actively being searched for, police said. At 6 a.m. state police responded to the area of Belknap Hall at Mansfield University to assist borough police with a foot pursuit, according to the news release.

Police later converged on Costanzo’s location at 42 Wilson Ave., Mansfield, according to the police.

Costanzo was armed with a fully deployed folding pocketknife in his right hand, police said, and he ignored multiple commands given to him by responding officers and continued advancing toward uniformed state police.

A state police member discharged their department-issued pistol, striking Costanzo. First aid was immediately rendered to him, however, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by Tioga County Chief Deputy Coroner Steven Daugherty.

All state police involved were placed on administrative leave per department regulations.

This incident is under the joint investigation by the state police and Tioga County District Attorney’s office.

State police at Mansfield had been looking for him after he had been confirmed to have committed several robberies in New York state. New York police were in pursuit, which led to the Mansfield area. State police utilized a precision immobilization technique, which caused the vehicle to come to a stop in the area near Route 6 and Route 549 in Richmond Township, Tioga County. Costanzo then fled on foot into a wooded area.