Hong Kong has plunged into violence just hours after China staged a military parade to celebrate 70 years of Communist rule.
In a tweet on Tuesday, American outlet Cable News Network (CNN) reported that police had fired a live round at a protester, marking an escalation in the political crisis in Hong Kong.
The man was shot in the Tseun Wan district where there was an outbreak of violence as protesters took to the streets.
Media reports say that is the first time in the political crisis that law enforcement officers have employed lethal force to disperse protesters.
Earlier in the day China had mounted a pompous display that involved weapons being displayed to the public in what media outlets have described as a show of force and might.
Hong Kong protesters have been demanding for an expansion of democratic space and independence from mainland China which considers Hong Kong to be its territory.
China has rejected the demands made by the protesters outright, threatening to deal with the protesters using force.
Police have been using huge amounts of teargas and force to push away the protesters who have refused to leave the streets.
Malls and subway stations have reportedly been shut down by the authorities.