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Officer-involved fatal shooting of black man near San Diego prompts angry response

Posted at 5:18 PM, Sep 27, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-28 08:10:36-04

Police were on the scene late Tuesday afternoon of a reported officer-involved shooting at a shopping center in El Cajon, California.

Police opened fire on a seemingly irrational man who allegedly failed to comply with their commands, sending him to a hospital and prompting accusations that the gunfire was racially motivated. The man later died of his injuries. 

The unidentified man failed to follow the patrol personnel's directives, leading to a confrontation that ended in gunfire, Lt. Rob Ransweiler told reporters. Bystanders reported hearing about five shots.

Maria Medina, an employee of a nearby restaurant, said they shut down the restaurant because the shooting happened near their drive-through and employees were waiting inside while police are outside. She said one of her co-workers was being questioned by police and had turned over a cell phone.

A witness said the person who was shot by police was having a seizure. 

El Cajon is located 15 miles east of San Diego. 

An employee at a nearby hair salon inside the shopping center said they heard gunfire and ran outside to see what had happened. "I heard three gunshots - there was a black man on the ground and two officers standing around him."

Police have not yet briefed the media on the incident.