PITTSBURGH -- A Pennsylvania state trooper was slain during a traffic stop on the Parkway West (Interstate 279), WTAE Channel 4's Jon Greiner reported.

Cpl. Joe Pokorny stopped a car near the Carnegie exit of the highway at about 2 a.m. Monday, police said. He was shot after what police called "a violent struggle" with the occupants.

Pokorny, 45, of Moon Township, was found on the ground outside his car by a Carnegie police officer who happened upon the scene a few minutes after the shooting.

The car that Pokorny pulled over was described as a black 2001 Mercury sedan with Pennsylvania license plate FXE-6527. Police found it on 29th Street, not far from Charise Cheatom's apartment on Sarah Street.

Cheatom, 23, owns the Mercury but was neither the driver nor a passenger during the fatal traffic stop, her uncle told WTAE Channel 4 Action News.

Still, Cheatom was arrested late Monday and charged with hindering apprehension. Police allege that she is not verifying information about a person who they think was in her apartment after the shooting, according to her attorney, Angela Carsia.

Trooper Robin Mungo said authorities believe three or four people may have been involved in the shooting. No descriptions of those people are available.

Police also said Pokorny's gun is missing. It's unknown yet whether that was the weapon used to kill him.

Pokorny, a Center Area High School graduate, was a 22-year police veteran. He had a 17-year-old son and a 15-year-old daughter.

His brother, Frank, is a former wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to the all-time roster on steelers.com.

Funeral Arrangements:

Friends will be received Wednesday and Thursday from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Darroch Memorial Chapel, 2640 Mill St., Aliquippa.

A service will be held at Memorial Chapel on Friday at 8:30 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. in St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church.

Entombment and full honors will follow in the Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery.

The Fraternal Order of Police Memorial Service will be conducted on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to:

F.O.P. 47, Cpl. Joe Pokorny Memorial Fund, Citizens Bank, 1132 Thorn Run Road, Moon Township, Pa. 15108.

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