Florida Cop Shoots and Injures Unarmed Black Man Who Witnesses Say Had His Hands Up

VICE News is closely watching policing in America. Check out the Officer Involved blog here.

Florida authorities are investigating an incident involving a white cop allegedly shooting and critically wounding an unarmed black man, whom witnesses said had his hands up in defense at the time.

The shooting occurred shortly past midnight Monday, after police located a stolen a car parked at an apartment complex, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings told an Orlando news conference, according to Reuters.

Demings said two men were in the stolen car at the time, and one of them, 28-year-old Cedric Bartee, reportedly refused to comply with directions given by the officer on the scene, Sergeant Robert McCarthy.

The officer said Bartee "made extensive furtive movements," which made the McCarthy fear for his life, authorities said. The sergeant then reportedly fired three shots, one of them hitting Bartee.

Several witnesses said the two suspects in the car had their hands up at the time the officer open fired, local media reported. Bartee underwent surgery and remains in stable but critical condition, Demings said.

The incident comes amid weeks of nationwide protests over police brutality and race relations, sparked by the killing of unarmed black teen Michael Brown, who allegedly had his hands up when he was shot by a white officer in Ferguson, Missouri earlier this year, according to some witnesses.

Demings urged for calm across the state in the wake of the latest Florida shooting, saying: "I ask everyone to not rush to judgment and allow the investigation to be completed."

'Week of outrage' over police killings begins in NYC as protests grow larger and louder. Read more here.