ST. PAUL — A 24-year-old man fatally shot by St. Paul police as he drove his SUV toward an officer had a loaded handgun “within immediate reach,” but whether the gun had been fired remains under investigation, police said Thursday.

Relatives of the man, identified by police and family members as Marcus Golden, asked the public to remain calm as they wait for answers about his death.

Golden was shot early Wednesday after he accelerated his SUV and “drove at a high rate of speed directly at one of the officers,” police said. The officers were responding to a woman’s complaint about receiving threatening text messages.

Police said the officers, “fearing for their lives,” fired several times, striking Golden. He died at the scene. Neither officer was hurt.

Investigators later searched the vehicle and found a loaded handgun “within immediate reach of the SUV’s driver,” police said.

The officers are identified as seven-year veteran Jeremy Doverspike and Dan Peck, who has been with the department nearly two years. Both are on standard three-day administrative leave. The shooting remains under investigation.

Earlier, Golden’s family appealed for calm.

“We realize there are many questions surrounding the shooting and we ask the public to remain calm as, together, we await the answers,” the family said in a statement, which said Golden was a beloved son, grandson, brother, nephew and cousin.

Police records show that Golden had made threats against officers and others as recently as last November.

As one officer drove him to jail, he said, “I hope you get killed soon, go to hell bro,” and “You devils gonna’ burn in hell,” among other things, according to one report. He was arrested for allegedly breaking windows and making threats at the apartment of Michael Elton, an ex-girlfriend’s father.

Golden was not charged, but the father obtained a restraining order. It wasn’t immediately clear whether that ex-girlfriend was the same woman Golden allegedly threatened this week.

“I consider him dangerous,” Elton said. “Throwing a brick through the window is dangerous.”

The St. Paul NAACP has called for an independent investigation into the shooting. Its president, Jeff Martin, said the investigating agency should be “totally removed” from the city or state. Golden was black; the races of the officers were not released.