NEW BRUNSWICK — On the second day of protests over the police-involved fatal shooting of an unarmed New Brunswick man, Middlesex County prosecutors met today with the family of Barry Deloatch and provided the most detailed public account so far of the incident that has inflamed many in the community.

Deloatch, 46, ran away after officers on routine patrol questioned him and two other men early Thursday, the office of Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce J. Kaplan said in a statement. The statement did not explain why the officers wanted to question the men.

Deloatch died from a gunshot wound to his left side and aorta following a struggle with two officers in an alley between two homes on Throop Avenue early Thursday, prosecutors said.

"The initial investigation revealed that Mr. Deloatch was not in possession of a firearm, but the investigation is continuing to determine if he was in possession of any other weapon and whether it was used against either of the officers during the struggle," the prosecutor’s office said in the statement.

On a police radio transmission from Thursday morning, a man is heard saying: "The suspect was attempting to hit us with a wooden stick."

That transmission was at the end of a harried couple minutes beginning around 12:10 a.m. Thursday in which an officer shouted, "He went over to 105 Throop — we’re stuck under the fence with him!" and then shortly after, "Shot fired!"

Prosecutors said the two officers involved in the shooting — one with the police department for 21⁄2 years and the other with the department for six years — were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Barbara Deloatch and her husband, Tommy, Barry Deloatch’s brother, met Friday with Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Nicholas Sewitch. She said she will give the prosecutor’s office time to investigate.

"I can’t say what was said at the meeting, but I was happy with the meeting. If I want them to work with me, I have to work with them," said Barbara Deloatch, who noted she is familiar with law enforcement because she is a clerk in the county sheriff’s department.

"Until I see all the medical reports, I have to go along with what they said," she added.

Bennie Deloatch, another of Barry Deloatch’s brothers, was not at the meeting and told a reporter police were "already giving you a bad story."

Earlier in the day, Bennie Deloatch joined family and friends in protests outside City Hall and at the shooting site.

"They won’t recover a weapon," he said with confidence. "What they’re trying to recover, it doesn’t exist. We recovered the truth."

"My brother was an innocent man — they shot him in cold blood," added Nate Deloatch, another brother.

As a mocking gesture for the weapon mentioned in the police radio transmission, one protester carried a thin stick from a tree.

Shouts of "Justice for Barry, justice for all!" and "Enough is enough!" rang out in the city of nearly 52,000 that is home to Rutgers University and serves as Middlesex County’s seat of government.

Bennie Deloatch said he hoped his brother’s death will prevent others in New Brunswick.

"Don’t try to worry about Barry — worry about the people that we don’t see right now, the ones that we don’t want this to happen to again," he said.

The prosecutor’s office said the two officers were on routine patrol when they stopped to question three men, including Deloatch.

He fled and the officers chased him into an alley, "where a struggle ensued and resulted in the shooting," according to the prosecutor’s statement.

Prosecutors said forensic analysis of the evidence will be conducted and that they interviewed civilians who heard the gunfire, rescue workers and officers.

"As in every case, it is the intention of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office to conduct a comprehensive, thorough and unbiased investigation into this incident, and all the resources of the office are being fully utilized to bring this case to a just conclusion," the statement said.

By Mike Frassinelli and Tom Haydon/The Star-Ledger

Related coverage:

• Relatives of New Brunswick shooting victim allege he was running away when he was shot

• Man is fatally shot by New Brunswick police during scuffle