In the US, an unarmed black man died after being shot by a police officer in the city of El Cajon in southern California on Tuesday.

Police say the man refused to remove his hand from his pocket, before pulling an object from his pants and pointing it at two officers. But no weapon was found on the scene after the shooting.

The incident prompted crowds to gather at the scene and at the El Cajon Police Department throughout Tuesday night.

Similar deaths have added to a torrent of accusations over racial bias in U.S. law enforcement, and calls for greater police accountability in the killing of black people.

However, police implore the public to be patient, work with them, and look at the facts before making any judgements.