NORTH SHELBY – Birmingham police shot and killed a man wielding a handgun at the Days Inn off U.S. 280 on the evening of Thursday, Dec. 28.

Officers responded to the hotel, located in the 4600 Block of U.S. 280 in Shelby County, at about 7 p.m., after the Birmingham Police Department was notified of a man with a gun walking around and knocking on doors, according to a press release.

“When officers arrived, they observed the victim as described holding a handgun,” the release stated. “Officers ordered him to drop the handgun. The suspect lowered the weapon, but then raised it back up. It was at that point the officer discharged his weapon, striking and killing him.”

The man killed was identified as 27-year-old Christopher Baird by Shelby County Coroner Lina Evans.

Evans said she was unsure about Baird’s place of residence, though he had been staying at the hotel.

The officer who fired on the man has been placed on administrative leave per BPD policy, according to police.

The Alabama Bureau of Investigations will conduct an investigation.

Anyone with information about the case should contact the BPD Homicide Unit at 254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 254-7777.