County: Man shot by Maryland officers unarmed but aggressive

Warning: The video below is graphic.

Authorities in Baltimore County say a man shot and killed by a police officer on Wednesday following a chase, was pointing his finger as if it was a gun when the officer fired on him, the Guardian is reporting.

Officers confirmed that no weapon was found at the scene.

McLeod, of Washington, D.C., was pronounced dead at a local hospital after the shooting.

The investigation into the shooting will continue and it is possible the video will be released.

The officer has been placed on routine administrative leave, according to the Baltimore Sunday.

A pharmacist called police after McLeod attempted to use a fake prescription to purchase a narcotic cough syrup – promethazine plus codeine – that delivers a high when taken with alcohol, police said.

Witnesses told detectives that they heard the officer repeatedly giving the suspect commands to “stop”, and that they heard the suspect shouting profanities at the officer. The officer fires his weapon as the suspect swiftly brings his hand forward from his waistband.

The head of the Baltimore County chapter of the African American rights group, the NAACP, Tony Fugett, also told The Baltimore Sun that Baltimore County police department should release the surveillance footage.

Officials said a foot chase began when an officer arrived, which led a confrontation.

The footage, police said, shows McLeod “reaching around to the small of his back and abruptly whipping his hand around and pointing it toward the officer, as if with a weapon”. The video does not include audio.

The man took to his heels when he saw police officers. “The video shows the officer had every reason to believe the suspect was armed and that he was in danger”.