St. Paul police shot and killed a man during a standoff Monday afternoon east of downtown St. Paul.

Police were called to 411 White Bear Ave. around 3:20 p.m. because someone saw a man carrying what appeared to be a rifle. The man was also said to be wearing a bulletproof vest.

St. Paul police Sgt. Paul Paulos told MPR News officers first tried non-lethal means to end the standoff, but that didn't work.

"It was followed up by lethal force, which was the shots fired by the officer and he died on the scene," Paulos said. "We called St. Paul fire medics immediately, to see if we could save the person. We could not."

The man, who was described as an adult and white, has not been identified. Four officers involved in the shooting are on standard, three-day paid leave. The officers, whose names were not released, have served between five and 19 years with St. Paul police.

Paulos said that while the man had a gun, it is not yet clear if he shot at police.