<text>  A necropsy revealed that a mountain lion that wandered near a southern California shopping center on March 6 died after a game warden missed his mark and shot a tranquilizer dart into the animals lung, officials say. A necropsy revealed that the dart entered the mountain lions chest cavity and delivered the tranquilizer to the cats lung tissue, the Press Enterprise reports. A game warden with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife meant to shoot the three-year-old animal in the shoulder or the rump after officials cornered the cat in a loading dock at The Promenade mall in Temecula. Mountain Lion: A mountain lion photographed that wandered near a southern California shopping center died after a game warden missed his mark and shot a tranquilizer dart into the animals lung . The Riverside County Sheriffs Department received several reports of the cat prowling around the mall around 6am and contacted Fish and Wildlife wardens who arrived at around 7am, the Enterprise reports. The game warden shot the male mountain lion with a tranquilizer dart and moved it to the bed of a pickup truck to be released back into the wild,The Los Angeles Times reports. The lion died while it was being transported and no one knew why. However, recent necropsy results show that the male cat, otherwise healthy, stopped breathing shortly after being darted. Kevin Brennan, a biologist with the Fish and Wildlife department, told the Enterprise that in most circumstances, wardens dont have the luxury of waiting for the perfect shot. Breathing: Necropsy results show that the male cat, otherwise healthy, stopped breathing shortly after being darted . He said that though the tranquilizer is safe when entering a muscle tissue, it can be fatal when delivered to the heart or lungs. Brennan said that the animal was not menacing to humans and the biggest threat it posed was the possibility of creating a traffic hazard. Wardens intended to release it safely back into the wild, and Brennan said that it is always better if wardens dont have to chemically immobilize an animal. Usually, wardens attempt to simply chase mountain lions away from a populated area if there is a safe route available, but in this case, there was no good exit for the cat, as he had wandered into the middle of town, Brennan said. Fatal: An official said that though the tranquilizer is safe when entering a muscle tissue, it can be fatal when delivered to the heart or lungs . Rare: A spokesman with the department said that it is rare for an animal to die after being struck with a tranquilizer, and when one does, it is usually due to the dart damaging a sensitive area like the spine -- or, in this case, the lung . A spokesman with the department said that it is rare for an animal to die after being struck with a tranquilizer, and when one does, it is usually due to the dart damaging a sensitive area like the spine -- or, in this case, the lung. They tried to do the right thing, Lt. Patrick Foy, a Fish and Wildlife spokesman told NBC. They have the training and equipment to do the right thing... and it doesnt always work out. A witness told KTLA that the animal was underneath a trailer for about 45 minutes before authorities arrived. The mall wasnt open, and only a few store employees were around in the early hours. But the mountain lion was reportedly first spotted near a freeway. The animal was not aggressive, the LA Times reports. Officials say the animal could have made his way to the mall area for a number of reasons including simply looking for a suitable habitat. Habitat: Officials say the animal could have made his way to the mall area for a number of reasons including simply looking for a suitable habitat . 