Man Killed by Trooper ID'd as Hearing Impaired

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A report from Charlotte-Mecklenburg police says a driver shot and killed by a state Highway Patrol trooper was a 29-year-old white man with a speech and hearing impairment.

The report provides no other details on the impairment of the driver, identified by the State Bureau of Investigation as Daniel Kevin Harris.

The SBI identified the trooper as Jermaine Saunders. Highway Patrol officials said in a news release that he was placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure after an officer-involved shooting.

State Highway Patrol officials said in a news release that the incident began about 6:15 p.m. Thursday when a trooper tried to pull over a vehicle for a speeding violation on Interstate 485. The release says the driver led authorities on a brief pursuit before stopping.

Officials say that's when the driver got out of his car and an encounter took place between the driver and the trooper, causing a shot to be fired. Harris died at the scene.