A report of shoplifting at a Washington County shopping mall led to police pursuit of a vehicle, a traffic stop and the fatal shooting of a passenger in the vehicle who police said had “brandished a firearm.”

The Pennsylvania State Police trooper involved in the incident at 6:18 p.m. Saturday was not injured and has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation continues, officials reported.

The passenger was hit by a “department-issued firearm” and died at the scene in the Hickory section of Mount Pleasant Township, according to Washington County Coroner’s Office.

Washington County Coroner S. Timothy Warco identified the man who was killed as as Dennis Fonoimoana, 26, of Burgettstown. He was a passenger in the vehicle that police stopped at the intersection of Westland Road and Main Street.

The incident began when police got a report of retail theft at the Rural King store in Washington Crown Center in Washington. Police were given information about the suspect’s vehicle, which had fled the scene; soon after, a trooper spotted the car in the area of Mount Pleasant and pulled it over, police said. “The driver was taken into custody, however, the passenger refused to exit the vehicle.”

The passenger “brandished a firearm” and failed to obey the trooper’s order to drop the firearm, police said. The officer fired his gun, striking the passenger.

The names of the officer and the driver of the vehicle have not been identified by state police and the district attorney’s office.

First Published: May 22, 2022, 10:55 p.m.