A white Alabama police officer was indicted on murder charges in the fatal shooting of a black man who died just yards from his front door.

On Friday, a grand jury returned the indictment against Montgomery police Officer Aaron Smith for the February shooting death of 58-year-old Greg Gunn.

The fatal confrontation began when the 23-year-old officer stopped Gunn as he was walking through his neighborhood shortly after 3am.

White Alabama police officer, Aaron Smith (left) was indicted on murder charges in the fatal shooting of black man, Greg Gunn (right), who died just yards from his front door

Smith's lawyer Mickey McDermott maintained Friday that Smith (left) acted appropriately after Gunn ran, fought back and then swung some sort of object at the officer

Smith's lawyer Mickey McDermott maintained Friday that Smith acted appropriately after Gunn ran, fought back and then swung some sort of object at the officer.

Friends said Gunn was walking home from his weekly card game to the house he shared with his mother.

McDermott said Smith was a young officer, patrolling by himself in a high crime district, when he stopped Gunn because he thought he was suspicious.

Gunn was hit with a stun gun three times, beaten with a baton and shot five times by Smith, a state investigator testified at a preliminary hearing in March, AL.com reported.

Smith fired his weapon seven times.

Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey announced the indictment in a press statement Friday.

McDermott said Smith (center walking to court in March) was a young officer, patrolling by himself in a high crime district, when he stopped Gunn because he thought he was suspicious

Gunn was hit with a stun gun three times, beaten with a baton and shot five times by Smith, a state investigator testified at a preliminary hearing in March. Gunn's brother, Franklin Gunn is pictured during a press conference with Mayor Todd Strange in February

Prosecutors had charged Smith with murder shortly after the shooting, and a judge sent the case to a grand jury.

A state investigator testified in a March hearing that Smith had given conflicting stories about what happened before he shot Gunn.

'It was Mr. Gunn's actions that resulted in his death,' McDermott said.

McDermott said he believed Smith was charged because of 'emotion and politics'.

A lawyer representing Gunn's family could not immediately be reached for comment.

The fatal confrontation was not captured on Smith's body camera or dash camera.

The shooting death roiled the Deep South city. Yellow lawn signs reading 'Justice for Greg Gunn' lined the streets in the neighborhood where Gunn was shot as protests (pictured) were held throughout the city

Patrol car cameras automatically switch on when an officer activates his or her blue lights, but Smith didn't activate his patrol car lights.

The shooting death roiled the Deep South city. Yellow lawn signs reading 'Justice for Greg Gunn' lined the streets in the neighborhood where Gunn was shot.

More than 200 mourners packed a memorial service for the 58-year-old.

Bailey in a statement said he wanted to stress that the indictment against Smith was not an indictment of the entire Montgomery Police Department or any law enforcement agency.