JOHNSTOWN, Pa.—The local unit of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People says the black community is patient—but still hoping for answers soon—as state police investigate the fatal shooting of a black motorist by Johnstown police.

The Tribune-Democrat of Johnstown ( http://bit.ly/P2fpvK) reports Tuesday that the NAACP has sent a letter to the police and the community about the June 24 shooting of 27-year-old Elip Cheatham.

Police say three officers fired at Cheatham as he drove his car toward the scene of an arrest of a bar shooting suspect. Police say they shot Cheatham because he sped toward them and wouldn't stop, but Cheatham's friends have said he was driving the bar shooting victim to the hospital and was just trying to get past the police vehicles.

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Information from: The Tribune-Democrat, http://www.tribune-democrat.com