44-year-old man killed in police shooting had a gun, CMPD says. Officer on leave.

A 911 call about someone firing shots in the street ended with a man being fatally shot by a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer, according to CMPD.

Nicholas Demar Lopez, 44, pointed his gun directly at Officer Braylin Brown “on at least one or two occasions” in the 100 block of Frazier Avenue — near the intersection of Interstate 77 and West Trade Street — on Wednesday, Oct. 4 around 9:30 p.m., officials said.

Officials announced their identities Tuesday.

“Upon arrival, an officer encountered an armed subject matching the description of the individual in question. CMPD said in a news release. “...An encounter ensued resulting in shots being fired and the subject was struck.”

Police say Brown, an officer in the Metro Division, repeatedly told Lopez to stop and drop the weapon.

Brown “ immediately began rendering life-saving measures” until MEDIC arrived. Lopez died after paramedics took him to a nearby hospital, police said.

“The officer was also transported to the hospital ... just to get checked out by medical staff,” CMPD officials said. Brown was placed on paid administrative leave.

A firearm was recovered at the scene, police said.

An investigation of the shooting will be handled by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and “CMPD will conduct a parallel internal investigation as that is standard protocol,” officials said.

This story was originally published October 5, 2023 at 5:29 AM.