A Houston man reportedly ripped down a road sign and charged after officers before he was fatally wounded in an incident Saturday, KHOU reports.
According to the report, the officer who fired the shots attempted to stop and help the man when he lunged at the officer. The officer tried to tase the man twice, with no effect, so when the man charged again, the officer opened fire, killing him.
"He could tell the male was very agitated, could see bulging veins in his neck. He was yelling vulgarities and appeared to be on some strong narcotic, possibly PCP," the Houston Police Department's John Cannon told the news station.
"The officer was backpedaling. He came off the curb, and that's when he almost lost control, and that's when he came around the car and did the fatal shots," a witness, Chris Vasquez, said.
The man was identified by family and friends as Peter Gaines, who was celebrating his 37th birthday over the weekend. They reportedly acknowledge that he may have been on drugs.
"He was not violent. He was a sweet guy. He was not a violent person at all, and that's what is bringing tears to my eyes," Timeko Barber, a friend of Gaines', said.
According to witnesses, the officer involved in the shooting, identified as K. Levi, became visibly upset after the incident. Vasquez said that he consoled the officer after the shooting.
"He broke down and started crying. He just had his hands on his head and he just started crying, and that's when I told him, 'Hey, everything's going to be all right; everything's going to be all right.' "
According to CBS News, Levi, who is black, was put on administrative duty.