SILVERTON, Ore. -- A 20-year-old man died Monday night after being shot by a Silverton police officer, officials said.

The Marion County District Attorney's Office said Officer Tony Gonzalez had responded to a burglary in progress near Oak and Mill Streets in downtown Silverton at 11:18 p.m.

After responding to the call, Gonzalez encountered Andrew "AJ" Hanlon, shot and killed him at about 11:20 p.m., officials said.

The victim's family said they were too grief-stricken to talk about Hanlon, but some of his friends called him a nonviolent person and said that police had no right to kill him.

Aerial Burton said she woke Tuesday around 6 a.m. to a phone call telling her that her friend, Hanlon, had been shot and killed by Silverton police.

"It's so hard because he was my best friend in the entire world," Burton said. "He was such a great person. He loved the outdoors. He loved art, which is why this could not have happened to him. I don't understand why."

Packing a teddy bear that she said belonged to her friend, Burton talked about Hanlon. She said he was a native of Ireland and came to Silverton to live with his sister less than a year ago.

Burton admitted that AJ had issues, but said he didn't own a weapon, had no criminal record and, she said, she can't imagine he would ever break into someone's house.

"That's not him, never was him and people need to know that 'cause they're gonna see it on TV or in the newspaper, and people need to know he was a good person with a big heart," Burton said.

Investigators said Silverton police officer Tony Gonzalez answered a call regarding a burglary Monday night at about 11:30 p.m. near the intersection of Oak and Mill.

What happened next is unclear, but neighbors said they heard five or six shots, one of which left a car window broken.

Investigators won't say if Hanlon was armed, if he was the burglary suspect, or why Gonzalez opened fire and Burton said she's angry and wants answers.

"Just because someone has some problems doesn't mean they deserve to get shot on the street like an animal. I don't understand," Burton said.

The Marion County Homicide Assault Response Team, a multi-agency team of investigators, is looking into the shooting. Gonzalez has been placed on administrative leave during the investigation.

Investigators said it's too early to say if the case will be handed over to a grand jury.

The district attorney's office said an autopsy will be conducted by the state medical examiner Tuesday afternoon.

Man Dies After Silverton Officer-Involved Shooting