Man killed after exchanging gunfire with Gilroy police officer, investigators say

GILROY, Calif. - A Gilroy police officer fatally shot a man who had allegedly fired an initial shot at the cop early Wednesday, police said.

Officers responded around 2:30 a.m. to a report of an intoxicated man in the 100 block of Fourth Street. The first officer who arrived at the scene encountered the man and within seconds he shot at the officer, authorities said.

The officer returned fire, striking the man at least one time during the exchange. The shooting happened in front of the post office. 

The man was taken to a nearby hospital where he died from his injuries. His name is not being released at this time. At a news conference a police sergeant described the person who was shot as a Hispanic male. 

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The involved officer was not struck by the gunfire, authorities said.

Police said they were called to the area on reports of an intoxicated man. 

Crime-scene tape was cleared by early Wednesday evening after the area was closed to streets for about 15 hours. A drone was used to survey the scene. Police said surveillance cameras in the area may have captured evidence and that they are in the process of reaching out to nearby businesses as part of the investigation. 

The fatal officer-involved shooting is being investigated by Gilroy police, and the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office is conducting its own independent investigation, as is standard protocol in such cases.