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Family demands answers after deadly officer involved shooting in Titusville

TITUSVILLE, Fla. — The family of a man that was shot and killed by a Titusville officer are demanding answers.

Family members said 40-year-old James Lowery was shot by police Sunday night.

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Read: Man shot and killed after attacking officer in Titusville, police say

Community activist Dwight Seigler said Lowery’s mother is devastated.

“She’s real torn up. you know, this hadn’t even been 24 hours yet,” Seigler said.

According to Seigler, the family said Lowery did not have a history of violence.

“From what I know, he was quiet. Had to get him to talk. Nobody’s never seen him being violent or anything like that,” he said.

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Officials said officers responded to a home off Gayle Avenue for reports of a woman being assaulted just after 7 p.m.

Police said when the first officer arrived on scene, he saw a man run away.

A short time later, that same man got into a “physical altercation” with the officer.

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Police said during the struggle the officer shot the man, who died at the scene.

The officer, who was not injured, has been placed on administrative leave while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement conducts an investigation into the shooting.

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Matt Reeser

Matt Reeser, WFTV.com

Matt Reeser joined WFTV in 1998 as a news photographer and has worked for television stations in Kentucky and West Virginia.