(AP) - A police officer shot and killed an armedman outside a home Saturday after responding to a complaint of a"despondent" person, Connecticut State Police said.

Bethel Police Chief Jeff Finch told The Advocate of Stamfordthat the man was attempting suicide, but "the situation changed"and became a confrontation with police.

The man fled to a wooded area behind the residence when threeofficers arrived at around 10 a.m. and refused to comply withorders to drop his weapon, state police Lt. J. Paul Vance said.

The officers unsuccessfully tried to calm him down and subduehim, and one of them fired at the man, severely wounding him, afterhe made an abrupt movement toward them with the weapon, Vance said.The man was taken to Danbury Hospital, where he was pronounceddead.

Vance would not say whether the man was threatening suicide.

None of the officers were injured. The names of the man and theofficer who shot him were not immediately released.

The officer has been placed on administrative leave pending thecompletion of a state police investigation, Vance said.