A man died in hospital Thursday morning after being shot by an Edmonton police officer.

Police received a call about a distraught man shortly before midnight Wednesday, said police spokesman Chad Orydzuk. The incident escalated to the point where a man was shot, he said.

The man was taken to hospital in serious condition, but later died from his injuries, he said.

The shooting happened just after midnight behind a west-end apartment building at 155th Street and 100th Avenue.

Officers said a man confronted police with a weapon.

Police shot at him, hitting him twice.

Family grieving

Faye Bitternose identified the man as her uncle, Kinling Robin Fire, 38.

"He was a good man," she said. "He was bettering himself; he worked; he was a single father; he really loved his son."

Faye Bitternose holds a photo of her uncle, Kinling Robin Fire, 38, who she said was shot by police Thursday. CBCFire was distraught after arguing with his ex-girlfriend over their son, said Bitternose.

Fire took a bottle of sleeping pills, before driving off in his car, she said.

When he returned, police were already on the scene, she said.

Fire was still conscious when the ambulance arrived, she said.

"He was laying on the ground," she said. "My grandmother came out to see what was happening. And he said 'Mom. That’s my mom.'

"The cops pushed her back inside. They wouldn’t let her see her son."

ASIRT to investigate shooting

Acting Police Chief Daryl da Costa declined to speak about the shooting as it is now under investigation by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team.

ASIRT is an independent agency that looks into incidents or complaints involving serious injury or death resulting from the actions of a police officer.

Da Costa said officers are concerned about the growing number of violent deaths this year.

"We've opened up 15 files so far this year, compared to four at the same time last year," da Costa said. He added that two of the deaths are officer-involved shootings and two more are historical deaths that were ruled homicides this year.

Officers are also worried with the level of aggression and access to weapons they've seen on the street, da Costa said.

"We're always concerned when our members have to resort to deadly force. But we can't be concerned about optics in that," he said. "We have to be concerned about the safety of the members and the public."

Thursday's shooting is the second involving city police this year.

A 17-year-old youth died after he was shot by an officer near Rexall Place Feb. 5.

Police were responding to several calls about armed robberies at the Coliseum ETS station.

Investigators said the youth came at police armed with a knife and a baseball bat.