• U.S.

Virginia Teen With BB Gun Shot to Death by Police

1 minute read

A teenager was shot to death in Roanoke, Va. after police saw him wielding what turned out to be a BB gun on Friday.

Roanoke County Police were responding to a 911 call about a black male in a bandana and hoodie waving a gun when they found Kionte DeShaun Spencer, 18, near a Walgreens, according to a local ABC affiliate. They asked Spencer to stop, and when he didn’t, they tried to tase him twice but were not effective, police said.

The two officers then fired at him, with one bullet striking near his hip and one near his collarbone, according to police. Spencer was transported to a hospital and died later that night.

An autopsy and investigation is underway and authorities say the police followed protocol. The police say they were unaware at the time that the firearm was a BB gun.

[WDBJ]

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com