A family is seeking answers after a 27-year-old Paterson man died after an encounter with police.

A large group of Paterson residents gathered outside the city’s public safety building to demand answers about the death of Jameek Lowery.

The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office says that it is investigating the death and three Paterson police officers have been placed on leave while the investigation is ongoing.

“I feel hurt. I feel lost. My heart is broken,” says Lowery’s mother Patrice King.

Lowery showed up at Paterson Police Headquarters early Saturday morning. He posted his encounter on Facebook Live. Lowery seemed agitated and stated that someone was trying to kill him. He begged that he did not want anyone to hurt him.

Investigators say that within minutes Lowery was taken to the hospital. Along the way, officials say that police used force to secure him. He was unresponsive by the time he got to the hospital.

“He was badly beaten,” says Lowery’s aunt Monique James.

The family says that they could not see Lowery at the hospital right away.

“He was dead when he got there. We just didn’t know that. We didn’t know until shift change when the nurse pulled us in the conference room and had a conversation with use and explained this kid came in and he was unresponsive,” says James.

Prosecutors say that the hospital had no record of trauma. They said that earlier that night Lowery called 911 and said that he took too much ecstasy. He told the 911 operator that he was paranoid.

Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh is trying to keep the peace in the city.

“They want answers. I want answers. But we want accurate answers and unfortunately that takes time,” Sayegh says.

The mayor says that he has spoken to Lowery’s mother and expressed his condolences.

Tuesday night’s rally was mostly nonviolent, but witnesses tell News 12 New Jersey that they did see at least one woman get maced.

An autopsy is expected in the upcoming days. It was scheduled for Tuesday, but apparently there were not any medical examiners available.