Donald Trump justifies shooting of black man in Milwaukee

Trump says police are doing a phenomenal job and that people shouldn't be rioting

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said the police shooting of a black man in Milwaukee was justified.

Sylville K. Smith was shot dead while trying to flee from police at a traffic stop.

Authorities have claimed the 23-year-old had a stolen handgun and refused to drop it.

Trump justified the shooting and said the police are doing a phenomenal job.

"We have to obey the laws or we don't have a country," said Trump. "We have a case where good people are out there trying to get people to sort of calm down and they're not calming down and we have our police who are doing a phenomenal job."

"The gun was pointed at his [a police officer's] head supposedly ready to be fired.

"Who can have a problem with that? That's what the narrative is. Maybe it's not true. If it is true, people shouldn't be rioting."

The killing lead to people taking to the streets and protestors clashing with officers while several businesses – including a petrol station – and a police car were set alight.

Trump was greeted with protesters outside a theatre in Milwaukee where he recorded a town hall session with Fox News, according to the Mirror.