BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Wardel Davis is dead after a struggle with police Tuesday night on Buffalo's west side. He was 20 years old.

Details are still limited, but officers say Davis died in their custody. Police said officers were investigating what they call a suspicious person.

"While officers were questioning the suspect, the suspect did attempt to flee from officers. A short foot chase ensued," said Lt. Jeffrey Rinaldo, Buffalo Police Department. "When officers caught up to the suspect, a struggle ensued taking that suspect into custody.

"As soon as that suspect was taken into custody, officers recognized that he was suffering from some type of medical distress. Officers immediately un-handcuffed the suspect and began first aid, including CPR."

One of the two officers involved went to the hospital with injuries described as minor.

Police say those two officers have each spent at least a decade on the force.  Both are on administrative leave.

Yellow police tape was hanging Wednesday from utility poles, and neighbors like Allison Hyman said it was a scary night.

"Police tape was all over my car. It was really scary and when we came outside they wouldn't tell us anything, and they told us to go back inside," said Hyman, Buffalo resident.

Friends of Davis came to Hoyt Street to set up a memorial.

"I knew him since he was about 18 years old. When I first met him, he was, like, the sweetest person ever. He's never been mean to anybody. I never knew him to have a problem with nobody. He had a lot of love from a lot of people," said Jashalyn Washington, Davis' girlfriend.

At a time when tensions between the police and community are high, those mourning the death say their trust is broken.

"We look to police for their job is to protect and serve," said Washington. She continued, "There's got to be more to life than me having to wake up out of my sleep to tell me that my boyfriend is dead. My boyfriend is dead."

"At this time we have concurrent investigations with both our internal affairs division, Buffalo Homicide Division, we've been in contact with the Erie County District Attorney's office as well as the New York State Attorney General's Office," said Lt. Jeffrey Rinaldo, Buffalo Police Department.

"Last July, Gov. Cuomo signed an executive order that stated that any deaths that occur as a result of a police encounter that the Attorney General's Office conducts an independent investigation we are working to cooperate with their office," said Rinaldo.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident, especially anyone who has cell phone video, to call Buffalo Police Homicide Detectives at (716) 851-4466.