Maui police said Monday that a 46-year-old Wailuku man, who allegedly exchanged gunfire with police officers during a traffic stop Saturday, shot himself during the fatal altercation.

Police spokesman Lt. William Juan said the Criminal Investigation Division confirmed through witnesses that Shawn Akamine shot himself during the altercation with police.

The shooting occurred on Lower Main Street near Hookahi Street after the sport utility vehicle was pulled over in the parking lot of Discount Mini Mart.

Police initially reported that at about 4:30 p.m. patrol officers stopped a sport utility vehicle. A passenger immediately got out and an exchange of gunfire occurred, police said.

Police said an investigation revealed the passenger shot at officers while fleeing, and officers returned gunfire and struck him.

One witness, Alfred Ayers, told Hawaii News Now that police struck Akamine in the leg and he fell. Akamine then turned the gun on himself, he said.

Juan said an autopsy is pending.

Akamine was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center, where he later died.

Police had opened a first-degree attempted murder case.

Police took the SUV driver into custody for questioning, and the driver was later released pending further investigation. No one else was injured in the incident.