Decatur police say a black man shot by a white officer was armed with a BB gun that resembled a real firearm. The 40-year-old Decatur man is listed in serious condition after being shot in the chest early Monday. The Associated Press is not yet identifying the man because he has not been charged with a crime.
Officers responded to a report of a man with a gun around 1 a.m. Interim Police Chief James Getz said during a news conference that Officer Andrew Wittmer fired one round during the encounter that "ended the threat."
Police initially said the man had a handgun and a large knife strapped to his wrist. Getz later said the man was carrying a BB gun that resembled a real firearm.
Local NAACP President Jeannelle Norman is urging residents to stay calm, wait for the investigation to play out and serve as an example for other communities.
The case has been turned over to the Illinois State Police.