BOSTON (WHDH) -- Boston police fatally shot a man in the chest after the suspect ran from a traffic stop and pulled a gun, police said.

Police said the suspect pulled a gun on members of the anti-crime unit when they confronted him and would not put the weapon down when ordered, forcing them to shoot.

Police said the suspect ran from a Cadillac they stopped in the South End.

Two blocks away, officers chasing the man said he stopped and left them no choice but to fire.

"The suspect produced a firearm. He was ordered to drop the firearm, refused to do so, and the officers fired one shot. The suspect was struck in the chest and he’s been pronounced dead at Boston Medical Center," said Commissioner Ed Davis, Boston Police Department.

Sources told 7News the suspect had a long criminal record, but police didn’t disclose why he was stopped.

A man walking to dinner told 7News he saw the chase and saw one woman tried to stop it.

“On the way when he was running she tried to trip him. She was carrying some shopping bags. They both made the turn. About 15 seconds later we heard on gun shot, and we started going in the other direction. And tons of cops flying from all directions,” said a witness.

Police said they recovered the suspect's weapon and they even have some of the chase on video from cameras outside the neighborhood's public housing.

Still, officers continued to search the neighborhood and talk to people about what they saw. Residents 7News talked to said they were shaken about what happened in what they said has generally been a quiet area.

“Awful. We moved here -- my husband and I -- from Michigan, and we love the city but it’s heart wrenching and it’s gut wrenching. ” said Lynette Guillet.

Police have not released the name or age of the suspect but a woman who lives in the area told 7News the suspect used to live in the neighborhood and was in his 20s.