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Man shot by police following vehicle pursuit to stand trial

By Miles Layton jmlayton@heraldstandard.Com 3 min read
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A Fiji man, who was shot by Uniontown police at the conclusion of a car chase in April, waived all charges to multiple crimes, including attempted homicide, to Fayette County Court on Tuesday.

State police said Sevanaia Lauakilagi Bainimarama, 39, was shot in both arms and his right hand April 20 following a car chase with police through Uniontown and South Union Township.

Police allege that during the pursuit, Bainimarama’s vehicle traveled between 50 to 75 mph while on Walnut Hill Road in South Union Township.

According to news reports, Bainimarama is the nephew of Frank Bainimarama, a former prime minister and strongman of the island nation of Fiji. Frank Bainimarama is running as a candidate for the president in the island’s elections in September.

According to the criminal complaint, Uniontown police attempted to stop Sevanania Bainimarama during a traffic stop around 2:30 a.m. April 20 near Dunlap Street and Pershing Court in Uniontown.

Police said the vehicle allegedly refused to stop but instead fled from Uniontown police.

The complaint said as the officers were allegedly chasing Bainimarama’s vehicle on Walnut Hill Road, he allegedly shot at them.

During the chase, Bainimarama’s vehicle struck a deer, but that did not stop his vehicle, the complaint said. The pursuit continued into Smithfield where the Bainimarama’s vehicle turned onto Firehouse Lane — a dead-end road.

Police allege that when the vehicle reached the dead end, Bainimarama turned his vehicle around and allegedly accelerated toward Uniontown police as they were exiting their patrol vehicle.

According to the criminal complaint, Uniontown police Patrolmen Kurtis Defoor and Elliott Fejes shot at the vehicle, wounding Bainimarama.

According to the complaint, police allege that while Bainimarama was in the ambulance, he asked, “Can I have a beer?”

Shandor said in response, “What did you say?”

Police allege that Bainimarama asked a second time, “Can I have a beer?”

Bainimarama was taken into custody before being taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va.

According to the complaint, Bainimarama is charged with two counts of criminal attempted homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of simple assault, two counts of recklessly endangering another person, two counts of recklessly endangering another person, fleeing or attempting to elude police and various summary traffic violations.

Magisterial District Judge Michael Metros arraigned Bainimarama on April 21 and set bond at $300,000. He remains in Fayette County Prison.

Assistant District Attorney J.W. Eddy said charges were waived to court in exchange for a bond reduction to $50,000 and pre-trial services.

Eddy said the criminal complaint was amended to include an additional charge of aggravated assault, two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and three summary traffic offenses.

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