Fatal gunfight between Mt. Oliver man, Pittsburgh cops being examined by police

A Mt. Oliver man was killed after a gunfight with four plainclothes Pittsburgh police detectives Thursday night following a traffic stop on the city’s North Side.

Authorities are working to piece together what happened, but as of about noon Friday, Allegheny County police could provide few details about what happened.

Elijah Jamaal Brewer, 25, was shot and killed, and one of the police detectives was shot once in the leg, Allegheny County police Supt. Coleman McDonough said.

“At this time we are unable to determine the number of rounds that struck Mr. Brewer,” McDonough said.

All four detectives fired their weapons, and Brewer shot a 9mm handgun twice at police, McDonough said. But he didn’t know who fired the bullets that hit Brewer or the detective, he said.

The 9mm was found in Brewer’s right hand, McDonough said.

“We know that a scuffle ensued, and gunshots were fired,” he said.

The detectives were in an unmarked GMC Yukon. At 6:55 p.m., for reasons not yet known, they stopped a 2002 Lexus ES 300, in which Brewer was a passenger. Detectives said they smelled burnt marijuana in the car and asked the men to exit.

The driver complied and listened to police, and Brewer also got out of the car. At 7 p.m., the gunshots started, McDonough said.

Police said they aren’t certain who fired the first shot.

The detectives weren’t wearing body cameras, nor was there a camera in the unmarked SUV, McDonough said.

During the gunfight the driver of the car ran but was detained nearby. He was questioned by police but hasn’t been charged and was released, McDonough said.

Police have not identified him.

Brewer was on parole because of a 2014 guilty plea to aggravated assault, reckless endangering and gun charges and wasn’t allowed to have a gun, McDonough said.

He said about six minutes before the traffic stop there was a robbery reported nearby, but county police haven’t connected the men to it.

“I don’t know what was in the minds of the involved officers,” McDonough said. “I can’t definitively tell you the reason behind the stop.”

Authorities are seeking surveillance camera footage from the area and are reviewing the body cameras of the other officers who responded to the call, McDonough said.

After county police complete the investigation, they will forward their findings to the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, which will determine if police were justified, McDonough said.

“We want to send our best wishes, our well wishes, to the Pittsburgh detective and hope he has a speedy recovery,” McDonough said.

Pittsburgh police officials wouldn’t comment further because of the pending county police investigation.

“The officers responded heroically and professionally while facing gunfire with an officer being shot. Although unfortunate that officers were forced to use deadly force in this incident, violence against the police continues to increase,” Robert Swartzwelder, president of Fraternal Order of Police Fort Pitt Lodge 1, said in a statement. “The assaults on police need to stop and stop now. All leaders of government need to support the police and speak out loudly when officers are assaulted and overtly support the actions of the officers throughout the investigative process.”

Staff writer Bob Bauder contributed to this report.