Autopsy pending after man fatally shot by officers in north Charlotte

CHARLOTTE — Authorities are awaiting an autopsy report following a fatal law enforcement shooting near a gas station on LaSalle Street in north Charlotte.

Officers responded to the area shortly before 3 p.m. Friday after receiving a report of a disturbance.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation into the shooting, which prompted weekend protests at the LaSalle Street gas station site.

Law enforcement officials said additional information will be released after the medical examiner completes the autopsy evaluation.

Upon arrival, officers reported seeing a group of people near the gas station who were not involved with the original disturbance call. Police officials said officers “observed a group of individuals nearby, unrelated to the original call for service, who appeared to be engaging in some type of criminal transaction.” Law enforcement stated one man fled from the scene, leading officers to pursue him on foot while ordering him to stop.

Security camera footage captured the pursuit before the man moved out of view. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officials reported that the man “produced a weapon that officers viewed as an immediate lethal danger,” leading officers to open fire.

Witness Eric Henderson gave an account of the shooting after observing the events at the scene. “So when he finally got up like he was close to the sidewalk when he got close to that sidewalk he was still stumbling and thats when the police hollered out, ‘Gun.’ Pop. Pop. Pop,” Henderson said.

Multiple witnesses told Channel 9 that the individual was shot in the back, but other sources told the station that those claims are inaccurate. Law enforcement officials are withholding the identity of the deceased man until all family members have been notified.

Further details regarding the shooting are expected to be released once the findings of the autopsy are made public.