#Armed protester shot dead was helping quadriplegic girlfriend, mom says

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Facebook live video shows the scene where Garrett Foster, seen left, with his fiancé Whitney Mitchell, was shot and killed during a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Austin.
Facebook, Reuters

A Black Lives Matter protestor shot and killed in Austin, Texas, Saturday has been identified as Garrett Foster — and his mom says he was pushing his quadruple-amputee fiancee’s wheelchair before he was gunned down.

A man who plowed his vehicle into protesters shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday. Foster pulled out a rifle and approached the driver, at which point the motorist gunned him down, police have said.

But the dead man’s mother questioned that narrative on Good Morning America Sunday.

Sheila Foster said her son was pushing fiancee Whitney Mitchell through an intersection when the gunman opened fire, ABC News reported.

“And this gentleman got out of his car and started firing shots, and my son was shot three times,” she said.

The mom did not say whether Foster had a gun, but noted he was licensed to carry.

Garrett Foster was rushed to Dell Seton Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Police said Foster and Mitchell were among the protestors at Fourth Street and Congress Avenue when the car barreled into the crowd.

Eyewitness Michael Capochiano told The Statesman that “there were people around the car, yelling, and people sounding like they were frightened.”

Capochiano said the driver then pointed a gun out of the car window and opened fire.

Foster “dropped to the ground when he got shot,” he said.

Austin police said the driver is in custody and cooperating with police.

About 50 protestors gathered outside the Austin Police Department headquarters early Sunday, the Statesman said.