John Bacon

USA TODAY

An Illinois police officer shot an African-American man in the chest Monday while responding to a call that a man had a handgun, authorities in Decatur said.

Interim Decatur Police Chief James Getz said the man, who was armed with a gun and knife, was in serious condition with a gunshot wound to the chest.

"We ask that everyone remain peaceful and reserve judgment until all the facts are known," Getz said. He said Illinois State Police would handle the investigation, "which is standard protocol ... in officer-involved, deadly force incidents."

The shooting took place hours after a wave of weekend Black Lives Matter protests rolled across the nation in response to last week's deadly police shootings of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota. Hundreds of people were arrested in the protests.

Getz said two white police officers responding to the call encountered a man matching the description. "During the engagement" one of the officers fired his weapon, and medical personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene. Police provided no further details.

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The gunshot victim has been tentatively identified as a 40-year-old Decatur resident, Getz said. The officers were not equipped with body cameras but did have in-car video that is under review by state police, Getz said.

The officer who fired his weapon is a five-year veteran of the force; his partner has served the department for four years, Getz said.

Jeanelle Norman, head of the local NAACP and a member of the Area Leaders and Education Response Team (ALERT), said ALERT has been working for almost a year to improve police and community relations. She asked that the community allow the process to work.

"We ask for calmness and understanding until all the facts are known, Norman said. “We know that trust may be an issue. The ALERT team is here to ensure that the process is properly followed. Let’s show our community and the nation that Decatur will remain calm during these turbulent times in our nation and around the world.”

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Hours after the shooting, police in East St. Louis, Ill., reported shooting a man who was firing shots at passing cars from his front porch. The suspect was firing a "long gun" and had a handgun on him, police said.

Police say when they responded, the suspect pointed and fired shots at the officers. The officers returned fire and struck the suspect. He was then taken to a hospital; his condition was not immediately known. No officers were wounded.

Contributing: KSDK-TV St. Louis