Another unarmed black man has been shot by police in the US

An unarmed black man was shot dead yesterday by police in Baltimore where the death of another black man while in police custody sparked riots in April.

Three officers, two of them white and one of them black, fired at Spencer McCain, 41, outside the home of a woman and two children that he was barred from visiting.

Baltimore County Police Chief Jim Johnson said at a news conference that Mr McCain was shot about 1am at the home in Owings Mills while a woman who said he threatened to beat her and her two young children were there.

Mr Johnson said all three officers fired at Mr McCain, who had adopted a “defensive position” and he was hit several times. A total of 19 rounds were fired, the Associated Press said.

The shooting comes in the aftermath of the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old who died in April after being arrested by police and bundled into a van.

More: Freddie Gray's death ruled a homicide, six officers charged