Man charged in fatal shooting of trooper
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Police charged a man with criminal homicide Wednesday night, accusing him of fatally shooting a state trooper during a traffic stop and with stealing the trooper's gun.
In announcing the charge against Leslie D. Mollett, 30, formerly of Mount Oliver, police did not immediately say whether Cpl. Joseph Pokorny was killed with his own weapon when shot shortly after 2 a.m. Monday.
Police have said Pokorny, a patrol supervisor out of the Moon Township barracks, was shot during a violent struggle during a traffic stop off of Interstate 279 a few miles southwest of Pittsburgh. But police would not immediately say how or why they believed Pokorny was shot.
"We're not going to get into that specifically yet. We believe Mollett was the one who caused the fatal wound," state police Maj. Frank Monaco said.
Police have said there were three other people in the car with Mollett, but said none of them will be charged with homicide, although some may still be charged in connection with the shooting. Monaco said Mollett fired two shots that hit Pokorny in the neck and chest.
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