A Baltimore police officer who fatally shot an unarmed man has told detectives he fired his weapon because he feared for his life — believing the man might be armed, according to sources familiar with the investigation.

The yet-to-be-identified officer told homicide detectives last week he had not completed his questioning of 27-year-old Edward Lamont Hunt when the man pulled away, prompting the officer to fire out of fear that Hunt might have a weapon, the sources said.

But the sources also said the officer’s statement is at odds with more than a dozen eyewitness accounts given just after the Jan. 30, 2007, shooting. Witnesses claim the officer thoroughly frisked Hunt, then, after the two exchanged words, shot him.

“They shot him while he was walking away,” eyewitness Lakeisha Artis, 30, told The Examiner the day after the shooting, which occurred in the parking lot of a Northeast Baltimore shopping center.

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Police spokesman Sterling Clifford declined to comment on the officer’s version of events.

“We do not comment on ongoing investigations of police-involved shootings.”

Detectives have reviewed preliminary evidence with city prosecutors, but Margaret Burns, spokeswoman for Baltimore City State’s Attorney Patricia Jessamy, said it was not clear if prosecutors had begun a formal review of the case.

“Once homicide detectives complete their investigation, we undertake a complete review of the case,” Burns said Thursday. “However, I do not know at this time if it has been turned over to us.”

Hunt’s death has angered friends and relatives, prompting his family to hire high-profile attorney A. Dwight Petitt.

Several witnesses told The Examiner that Hunt was shot twice in the back. Clifford said shortly after the shooting that it is still not clear whether the wounds were in the front or back.

No weapon was recovered from Hunt. Although police officials initially said Hunt possessed drugs, they have yet to release details of what types of drugs they believe Hunt was carrying. Hunt’s family has disputed police accounts that he was carrying drugs.

“If they say he had drugs on him, they were planted,” said Lakia Jeter, 25, Hunt’s fiancee.

sjanis@baltimoreexaminer.com

lbroadwater@baltimoreexaminer.com