A man who was “whipping his hand around” as though it were a gun was shot and killed by Baltimore County Police, authorities said Thursday. The man, whose name has not yet been released, was shot three times by police after trying to use a fake prescription to buy cough syrup at a pharmacy, the Guardian reports.



A statement released by the Baltimore County Government reports that the incident was caught on video by a nearby surveillance camera:

The footage shows the suspect aggressively advancing on a single officer, who retreats with his gun drawn. The footage shows the suspect 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 officer fires his weapon as the suspect swiftly brings his hand forward from his waistband. On the ground, the suspect refuses to comply and keeps reaching into his waistband, as if for a weapon.

Officers confirmed that no weapon was found at the scene. The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave while the Baltimore County State’s Attorney investigates.

The incident occurred in Reistertown, a suburb of Baltimore close to where riots broke out earlier this year after 25-year-old Freddie Gray died of a spinal injury in the city. Gray, who was arrested for carrying what police say was a switchblade, died of his injuries while in police custody.



[Image via WJZ]