The Latest: Man killed by trooper ID’d as hearing impaired

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Latest on the fatal shooting of a driver by a State Highway Patrol trooper (all times local):

4:45 p.m.

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.

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10:10 a.m.

Authorities say a North Carolina trooper has shot and killed a driver following a chase in Charlotte.

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. The driver died at the scene.

Officials say the trooper was placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure after an officer-involved shooting.

Other details haven’t been released, including the race of the driver and the trooper. The State Bureau of Investigation is handling the investigation.

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