THE sister of a young Dublin man shot dead by US police has said that "there is an awful lot of anger and vulnerability" in the state where he died.

More than 100 people silently waved signs asking "Why?" and "Protect and Serve?" outside Silverton City Hall, after an officer gunned down Andrew Hanlon (20) from Dublin.

The promising artist was shot several times by Officer Tony Gonzalez near the scene of a reported burglary, however, his sister has said he is highly unlikely to have been involved in a robbery.

Mr Hanlon had wanted to come home after developing psychological problems while in America but has no family other than an elderly grandmother left in Ireland.

Bullets

Speaking from Oregon this morning, his sister Melanie Heise said: "There was a bunch of bullets found. We want to know why wasn't a Taser used?"

She added: "There is a lot of hurt and a lot of people in pain over this."

Mr Hanlon went to visit his sister last July but when his six-month tourist visa expired at the start of this year, he moved out on his own.

Andrew's family have received no information about the circumstances of his death since being told of his death at 5am on Tuesday morning.

Any further information they have gained has come in the form of press releases.

"We are trying and trying. It's very shut-mouth. Everyone has been instructed not to talk," said a devastated Melanie.

Asked whether reports that her brother was carrying at gun at the time, Melanie said no.

"Being my brother, he's not that kind of kid, he's not that kind of kid," she said.

She had wanted her brother to return to Ireland after developing mental problems, but he remained in the States and "fell through the cracks".

In recent months, Andrew "went in and out of states of paranoia and delusions".

"I had started to notice he had a little psychological stuff going on but he was the right age for that," Ms Heise added.

Ms Heise last saw her brother on Saturday and described his condition as "grand".

"Everyone he loved and knew was here", she said.

His mother now lives in the south of France.

A full scale investigation has been launched into the shooting and the officer responsible has been put on temporary leave.

An autopsy by the state medical examiner concluded that Andrew died from a gunshot wound.

A police spokesperson has said: "We're going to wait for a complete investigation to be concluded."

However, Ms Heise said that "excessive force" was used.

- Kevin Doyle