Man dead in Washington County police-involved shooting
One man was killed Saturday in a confrontation with Pennsylvania State Police following a traffic stop in Washington County.
Police said troopers responded to a retail theft call at 6 p.m. at the Rural King store at the Washington County Mall, identified the suspect’s vehicle and later located it in Mount Pleasant Township.
During a traffic stop, police took the driver into custody but a passenger brandished a firearm and refused to follow troopers’ demands that he drop the weapon, police said. An unidentified trooper fired one shot and killed the passenger, police said.
The trooper was placed on administrative duties as police and the Washington County District Attorney’s Office investigates the incident.
According to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI, the passenger was identified by Washington County Coroner as 26-year-old Dennis Fonoimoana.
Rich Cholodofsky is a TribLive reporter covering Westmoreland County government, politics and courts. He can be reached at rcholodofsky@triblive.com.
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