A Skowhegan police officer shot and killed a New York man Saturday evening, after the man allegedly shot a gun in the air and then pointed it in the direction of police officers.

Kenneth “Carlos” Ortega, 30, of New York, was shot by officer Benaiah Willhoite, according to Skowhegan Police Chief David Bucknam. Ortega died from his injuries at Redington-Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan.

At 6:33 p.m. Saturday Skowhegan police received a report of suspicious activity at a residence on Water Street, with a caller reporting there was activity at a residence that was not occupied because, the caller said, the resident had died earlier in the day.

Police responded and encountered a man and woman walking away from the residence, and commanded them to stop.

The man, later identified as Ortega, allegedly refused to comply with officers’ commands and fired a gun in the air, according to a news release from Bucknam. Ortega then allegedly pointed the gun down towards the officers.

“Officer Benaiah Willhoite shot Mr. Ortega as he pointed the gun in the direction of the officers,” Bucknam said in the release.

Willhoite will be placed on administrative leave, which Bucknam said is standard protocol when an officer is involved in a deadly force incident. Wilhoite is listed as a corporal on Skowhegan’s website.

The Office of the Maine Attorney General will investigate the shooting.

This is a developing story.