A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer shot and killed a man on a quiet residential street a mile north of uptown Tuesday, the third time in seven months a suspect has died during a confrontation with CMPD.

A 21-year-old man, identified by family members and police as Aaron Quentin Winchester, died on a sidewalk on Sylvania Avenue.

Two residents who say they saw the shooting told the Observer that Winchester did not seem to have a weapon or act aggressively toward police. But a silver revolver lay inches from his body.

Police say Officer David Jester fired four shots at Winchester after the suspect ran, reached in his back pocket, then turned with a gun in his hand. Winchester was hit twice in the back. No shots were fired at the officer.

Officials said the shooting occurred after officers responded to a call that a man had assaulted a woman in a car, and that the car had crashed into a pole.

Jester, a 13-year-veteran, is a member of the department's SWAT team. As part of police policy, he will be placed on administrative leave while the department investigates.

David Barber, Winchester's grandfather, said Winchester was evidently having an argument with a girlfriend involving her car -- a continuation of a quarrel that started last week.

Police arrived at about 1 p.m., responding to a series of 911 calls. Family members said the girlfriend made the calls.

Witnesses say an officer approached Winchester as he walked toward North Graham Street.

Mozelle McMullen said she watched the shooting from her front stoop, directly across the street, about 35 feet away. "That boy crossed the street and he told him, `Don't you run,' " she said. "Shot that boy in the back. I said `Good God Almighty, he done killed that child.' "

Winchester was awaiting trial for several minor traffic violations and one count of carrying a concealed weapon. He had been previously charged with robbery though the charges were dismissed.

Police Chief Darrel Stephens said Tuesday that police have been involved in a high number of shootings. He said officers are facing more situations involving guns.

Under law, officers can fire their weapons if they fear for their lives or are trying to protect someone else.

Last year two Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers were shot and killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic disturbance at the Timber Ridge Apartments.

In November, a police officer fatally shot LaQuan Hykeem Davon Brown, 16, in the lower back at the Casa de Lago apartments on Albemarle Road.

Sources told the Observer Brown had a gun when he fled from police. The same sources say Brown was not armed and had only a cell phone in his hand when he was shot. The officer was cleared in the shooting.

On March 20, Darryl Wayne Turner died after a police officer shocked him with a stun gun, the first Taser-related fatality in the department's history. The death occurred at a grocery where Turner worked.

Tuesday's shooting provoked anger in the Lockwood neighborhood. Residents yelled at police and implored officers to comfort the victim's weeping mother. They also criticized police for leaving Winchester's body on the sidewalk for hours.

In an e-mail sent out Tuesday night, Lockwood neighborhood leader Christopher Dennis cautioned people to reserve judgment until the facts are in.

Ronald Winchester and his wife, Bonita, were at the scene. They had been called and warned that the shooting might have involved their son. They waited more than two hours before they were asked to come downtown to meet with police.

After being told her son was dead, Bonita Winchester collapsed and screamed, "Oh God, Oh God, it can't be my son."

Ronald Winchester took his wife in his arms and held her. Afterward, tears still in his eyes, he said he wanted answers from police.

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