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Suffolk County Officer Fatally Shoots Armed Man After Traffic Stop In Bay Shore

BAY SHORE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- An officer shot and killed an armed man following a traffic stop early Friday morning in Bay Shore, Suffolk County police said.

The incident occurred shortly after midnight when two officers pulled over a vehicle on Howells Road.

Suffolk County Officer Fatally Shoots Armed Man After Traffic Stop In Bay Shore

The front seat passenger, identified as 27-year-old Andres Morales, ran from the vehicle and one of the officers gave chase, police said.

Morales displayed a handgun during a confrontation with the officer, who then fired two shots, police said.

"The officer was in fear for his life," Detective Lt. Kevin Beyrer told 1010 WINS.

Morales was struck twice in the torso and died at the scene, police said.

Residents who live near the scene said they awoke to the sound of gunshots, sirens and helicopters flying overhead.

"I heard about two to three shots," one man told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall. "About a few minutes after that there were helicopters hovering across the town."

"The neighborhood has been getting progressively worse over time," a 67-year-old man said. "It's all about drugs and guns nowadays."

Investigators determined Morales did not fire his weapon, Beyrer said. The officer was not injured.

Two other occupants of the vehicle were interviewed at the scene and are not suspected of any criminality, Beyrer said.

The incident remains under investigation.

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