According to WSOC-TV, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers went to The Village at College Downs apartment complex about 4 p.m. looking for a suspect with an outstanding warrant when they encountered the man – not the suspect they were looking for – inside a car, department spokesman Keith Trietley said in a statement.
Officers saw the man get out the car with a gun and then get back in, Trietley said. When officers approached the car, Trietley said, the man got out of the car with the gun again. At that point, officers deemed the man a threat and at least one fired a weapon, Trietley said.
>> PHOTOS: Protests erupt after Charlotte police kill man who allegedly had gun
According to WSOC-TV, the man, identified as 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott, was taken to Carolinas Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Police said the officer involved in the shooting was Brentley Vinson. As is standard procedure with any officer-involved shooting, Vinson has been placed on paid administrative leave, police said. Vinson has been employed with the CMPD since July 21, 2014.
Detectives recovered a firearm at the scene that they said the man had been holding when he was shot.
Scott's relatives said he did not have a gun, but instead had a book in his hand and was waiting for his son to be dropped off from school.
Tuesday night, protesters gathered in the streets chanting, "Black lives matter," and "Hands up, don't shoot!" Some protesters reportedly damaged police cruisers, and police deployed tear gas into the crowd.
Early Wednesday, protesters reportedly blocked I-85. Meanwhile, people were seen lighting fires and looting trucks and a local Walmart.
For the latest on this developing story, visit WSOC-TV's website or follow WSOC on Twitter.
– The Associated Press and the Cox Media Group National Content Desk contributed to this report.
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