VALDOSTA — A man was shot and killed by two Lowndes County deputies Wednesday afternoon in a hotel parking lot, according to authorities, but it is unclear exactly why he was shot and how the incident took place.

At approximately 6 p.m., LCSO deputies were involved in an incident

in the parking lot between the EconoLodge and Sleep Inn off Interstate 75 at Exit 18 in the 3000 block of James Road.

“We had one individual who has been shot and is deceased. He was shot by two Lowndes County deputies,” said Agent Steven Turner with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “We are actively investigating the cause and manner of death and what happened. We are still getting all the facts and circumstances together.”

Sheriff Chris Prine requested that the GBI be called to the scene to investigate the use of force in the incident, according to Turner.

Prine has not released the identities of the two deputies involved in the shooting, but he did say both have been placed on paid administrative leave until the investigation is completed.

The name of the victim has also not been released, but Times staff witnessed the body of an African American man  inside a black car that had been involved in a collision with a red van.

Two other individuals, a man and a woman, were seen being taken into custody at the scene, but their names and how they were involved in the incident have not been released.