San Francisco Police Shooting: White Man Shot And Killed After Charging At Officers With Air Gun

San Francisco police shot and killed a man suspected of carrying a hand gun on Sunday evening in the parking lot of the Mission District police station. The 32-year-old white man was shot three times after he charged at officers, according to local media reports.

The incident took place after the man was seen in the parking lot and displayed unpredictable behavior, The Associated Press reported. Two officers reportedly fired shots at the man after he tried to pull out what they thought was a deadly weapon, which later turned out to be a type of air gun that can shoot pellets but not bullets. The man, whose name has not been released, succumbed to his injures after undergoing surgery at a local hospital.

Police spokesman Albie Esparza reportedly said that the officers involved in the shooting were unharmed, and were put on paid administrative leave following the incident. "The sergeants saw the butt of the weapon as he pulls it out and brandishes it at the sergeants," Esparza said, according to NBC Bay Area.

"We don't know his motive or why he challenged the officers or approached them in the first place," Esparza reportedly said. "It was very erratic behavior by the suspect, very unusual."

A witness at the scene reportedly said that he heard nearly seven shots being fired.

Esparza also reportedly said that the same man had approached officers earlier in the day and asked them about their guns and ammunition as they were responding to a report of domestic violence.

"(The officers) didn't really interact with him" at the time, Esparza reportedly said. "They were busy on a call and he was sort of loitering around."