Maryland State Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a suspect by a state trooper Friday night in North East.

State police said at around 9 p.m., Trooper Daryl K. Brackett was driving his patrol car in the parking lot of North East Plaza Shopping Center when he spotted a man wanted by the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office on a theft warrant.

State police said the trooper got out of his car and approached the man, identified by state police as Charles S. Hall, 30, of North East, in the parking lot. When the trooper attempted to arrest Hall, he resisted and a struggle between the two began, according to police.

Police said while still struggling with the trooper, Hall managed to get back in his car and attempted to drive away. “During the struggle, the trooper fired his assigned duty pistol, striking Hall in the upper torso,” Maryland State Police said in a statement released Saturday.

Hall was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit, the division that handles trooper-involved shootings, is investigating. Brackett, a state trooper for three years, has been placed on administrative leave.

Police said the results of the investigation will be sent to the Cecil County State’s Attorney’s Office.

MARYLAND