Protests after teen shot dead by sheriff's deputy in USA

Protests are being held in the USA after a sheriff's deputy shot and killed a 17-year-old man during a traffic stop who was trying to fix his car.

Hunter Brittain was driving a truck that was stopped by the deputy, identified as Sgt Michael Davis, in Arkansas.

TV station KATV reported family members say Mr Brittain was working on his truck about 3am and was heading to his construction job for 6am.

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They said his friend, Jordan King, 16, was with Mr Brittain and said the pair were pulled over after leaving the car garage.

Mr King said Brittain's truck wouldn't go into park, so he got out to get an oil jug to put behind his vehicle's tyres, to stop it from hitting Sgt Davis' car.

He claimed Sgt Davis then fired without telling Mr Brittain to stop or get on the ground.

"They didn't say one word that I know of. I didn't hear it and it happened so fast," Mr King told the station.

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Mr Brittain was taken to a North Little Rock hospital after the shooting, where he later died.

Mr Brittan's grandmother was among people protesting outside the Sheriff's office, KATV Reported, where rallies have continued for three nights.

"He was my grandson. I'm his grandmother. I've had him for the last five years of his life," Rebecca Payne, said.

"We're ready to find out something. It's time they start letting us know something."

The Lonoke County Sheriff's Office said it has turned the investigation of the shooting over to Arkansas State Police.

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State police say the circumstances of the traffic stop and what led to the deputy to fire his gun at Mr Brittain "will be documented in the investigation".

The sheriff's office says Sgt Davis will be on administrative leave pending the outcome of the state police's investigation.

Cabot, a city of about 26,000 people, is located about 48km northeast of Little Rock.

State police said Mr Brittain was from McRae, a city of about 700 about 24km northeast of Cabot.

-Reported with AP