LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — The family connected to a man in an officer-involved shooting is responding to social media backlash against police.

The brother of the man shot by Lexington police Sunday night said he has long dealt with mental health issues and put responding officers in harm’s way.

According to the Lexington Police Department, Clint Miller stepped out of a residence armed with a handgun and rifle. After officers asked him to drop the weapons, he refused and opened fire at officers who then returned fire and struck the subject.

Matt Miller, Clint’s brother, spoke to us from North Carolina. He said Clint, 43, had become distant over the years. Matt last heard from Clint on his birthday earlier this month.

Sunday, during a rare argument with his longtime girlfriend, Clint went into a rage, destroying things inside the house before firing shots into the family’s classic car in the driveway of their home on Gay Place, according to Matt.

Matt said he’s had a rough time with comments he’s seen on social media, blaming law enforcement for the way the incident played out and ultimately Clint’s death.

“The bashings of the police and the people not knowing the whole stories is just unbelievable. Like this is people’s go-to nowadays, ‘let’s just bash the police.’

‘We don’t know the whole story, we don’t know what’s going on, the police were there, and there was a shooting, lets blame them.’

It’s not right. That’s not how I want this to be seen. I want it to be seen for what it is: the cops did their job, and protected the community.

My brother made a selfish decision and attempted to injure people for absolutely no reason.”

Matt Miller

Lexington police said five officers were involved in the shooting and none were injured.

The officers have been put on routine administrative leave while Kentucky State Police investigates.