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Witness: DeKalb police told man to drop gun before shooting him

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A man is in critical condition after police opened fire at a DeKalb County apartment complex late Thursday night.

The shooting happened at the Bryton Hill apartments on Skyland Drive.

DeKalb County police said officers were in an apartment talking to a woman when a man walked in from another room with a gun.

"At first, the man had the gun to his own head, but then pointed the gun at our officers and they were forced to shoot," DeKalb County police spokeswoman Mekka Parish said.

Witness Kaari Dixon told Channel 2's Darryn Moore he was standing in front of his apartment when he heard police officers give an order.

"I seen one police with a gun and he was telling Dave, 'Put the gun down, it's not worth it. Drop the gun,'" Dixon said.

Dixon said he heard gunshots seconds later.

Police shot the man at least three times.

Dixon said the incident started during a heated argument between a couple.

Crime scene investigators spent several hours bagging up evidence from inside the apartment.

DeKalb police have yet to provide full details of what happened.

Sources initially told Channel 2 Action News that the man was killed, but later learned he is in the hospital in critical condition.