Police shooting
The shooting by Delaware police was caught on video

Relatives of a paralysed man in a wheelchair who was shot dead by police officers have described his killing as an "execution." Jeremy McDole was shot dead in his wheelchair in stand-off with police.

The officers were responding to a 911 call in Delaware following reports that a man had shot himself. When they arrived at the scene they found Mr McDole in his wheelchair "still armed with a handgun.

Video of the incident has emerged which shows one officer approaching the 28-year-old with a gun drawn, shouting "show me your hands" and "drop the gun". More officers then appear in the video also with their guns drawn, shouting similar commands.

He was in a wheelchair, paralysed from the waist down. There's video showing that he didn't pull a weapon... I need answers.
- Phyllis McDole

Mr McDole is seen moving around in his wheelchair, before he reaches into his jeans. The officers then fire multiple shots killing him instantly. His body slumps out of his wheelchair and falls to the ground.

Speaking at a news conference his mother, Phyllis McDole, told a news conference that the killing of her disabled son was "unjust". She said: "He was in a wheelchair, paralysed from the waist down. There's video showing that he didn't pull a weapon... I need answers."

Chief Bobby Cummings said officers "engaged" Mr McDole as he was removing the gun from his waist. "I assure that not one of those officers intended to take anyone's life that day," he explained.

Eugene Smith, Mr McDole's uncle, said he was with his nephew 15 minutes before the shooting. "He had a book bag, but I never seen a gun. It was an execution. That's what it was," he said. "I don't care if he was black, white, whatever."

Mr Smith revealed that his nephew had been released from prison last year and was living in a nursing home. Mr McDole has convictions for drug possession and disorderly conduct. He was paralysed when he was shot in the back in 2005 by a friend with whom he had been smoking marijuana, according to court documents.

All four of the officers are currently on administrative duty. The shooting is being investigated by the department's criminal investigation and professional standards units, along with the Delaware Department of Justice's Office of Civil Rights and Public Trust.