The nephew of Fiji’s interim prime minister, Frank Bainimarama, has been charged with attempted homicide after shooting at police in the United States.

Police say Sevanaia Bainimarama fired several shots at officers during a 19-minute car chase in a small town in Pennsylvania.

During the chase Bainimarama was shot in both arms and one hand after police returned fire. He is now recovering.

Local reporter Liz Zemba told the ABC the car chase began when police tried to pull Bainimarama over for going through two stop signs.

“When they tried to stop him, he wouldn’t stop. Instead he led them on a chase,” she said.

“During the chase, police say he fired several gun shots at the police officers and kept going.”

The dramatic pursuit came to an end when Bainimarama turned into a cul-de-sac in the town of Smithfield and was boxed in by officers.

Police say Bainimarama then turned his car around and drove at the officers.

“The police fired at him and ended up hitting him in both of his arms, and one of his hands, and at that point he was taken into custody,” Zemba said.

Police say Bainimarama did not appear to be concerned by his wounds, instead asking ambulance officers at the scene if he could have a beer.

Zemba said the police report did not detail Bainimarama’s blood alcohol level at the time of the incident.

Bainimarama has been charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment, fleeing police and running stop signs.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 10.

Sevanaia Lauakilagi Bainimarama, 39, of Smithfield in Fayette County arrived in this country about 1998, long before his uncle, Voreqe “Frank” Bainimarama, 60, seized power in the Republic of Fiji during a violent military coup in 2006.

Until recently, Bainimarama was working for natural gas drilling company Calfrac Well Services, earning a living far beyond what he could have ever imagined in his homeland, a family member said.

But on April 20, Bainimarama’s American dream hit a snag.

A co-worker, Tom Chang, 48, another Fijian who lives in Smithfield with Bainimarama, loaned his Nissan Pathfinder to Bainimarama.

Police said he sailed through a stop sign in Uniontown, then led two officers on a wild, 19-minute chase that ended shortly after 2am, not far from the West Virginia border.

During the pursuit, Bainimarama, a veteran of the Fijian military, fired a gun at the officers, hit a deer, then tried to run them over on a dead-end street, police said. The officers shot him in both arms.

As he was being loaded into an ambulance, Bainimarama – already smelling of alcohol, reportedly asked the police officers for a beer.

Chang said he was shocked to hear about the encounter, because his countryman is “a good-hearted guy.”

“It’s like something out of a movie,” Chang said as he and another Fijian, who declined to comment, stood outside the Fayette County Prison in Uniontown, trying to determine how they could help Bainimarama.

“It’s very unusual for him, because he’s a very friendly guy,” Chang said. “He’s always sharing stuff.”

Chang said the suspect, who is being held in the jail with bail set at $300,000, worked with him in the natural gas drilling industry as a fracking operator.

Warden Brian Miller said the suspect goes by the name “Steve.”

A spokesman with US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement said it is keeping tabs on Bainimarama’s case.

“ICE has not yet placed a detainer on Sevanaia Bainimarama,” said Vincent Picard. “The agency is monitoring Mr Bainimarama’s criminal case and will reassess as necessary. ICE is focused on effective, sensible immigration enforcement that focuses first on convicted criminals who pose a threat to public safety.”

Picard said he cannot comment on the status of Bainimarama’s visa or the amount of time he has spent in this country without the suspect’s authorisation.

District Attorney Jack Heneks declined to comment on Bainimarama’s case – but said a typical sentence on an attempted homicide charge for a person with no record is five to six years in prison.

Police said additional charges likely will be filed when Bainimarama appears on June 10 before District Judge Michael Metros of Uniontown for a preliminary hearing.

Chang said he visited the Uniontown police station to try to retrieve his wrecked Pathfinder. For now, it remains in police custody.