CLAYSBURG, Pa. -- Some Blair County residents are outraged after they said police officers unloaded their guns on a 250-pound black bear outside of a local business.

A crowd of about 200 people gathered Wednesday outside of McCabe Trucking on Bedford Street to peek at the black bear that had climbed a tree.

Officials from the Pennsylvania Game Commission first tried to tranquilize the animal with no success. Witnesses said the bear then climbed down the tree and tried to run, but police fired numerous times, killing the animal.

Witnesses said 18 shots were fired in all, while onlookers shouted at the police to stop. One resident caught the shooting on tape.

"The bear wasn't charging anybody. If he did, I could see putting the bear down, but the bear was running towards the woods. It was trying to get away from everybody," said Rick Zeigler.

Some bullets hit the bear while others hit the building.

Witnesses said a spectator, who was enraged by the shots at the animal, was tackled to the ground by police for telling them it was animal cruelty.

Officials with the Game Commission said the shooting is still under investigation.

The Greenfield Township police chief would not comment.