Elijah Jamaal Brewer, 25

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
March 06, 2020

Agencies: Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Pennsylvania

Cause of death: Shooting

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Last updated: almost 4 years ago

Overview

Elijah Jamaal Brewer, 25, was shot and killed by plainclothes police in a gunfight after a traffic stop, 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.

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