An investigation is underway after police in Chicago shot dead a teenage college student and a mother of five.

They were shot when officers responded to a domestic disturbance call on the city's West Side.

Police admit that 55-year-old Bettie Jones was shot "accidentally".

In a statement, police said 19-year-old Quintonio LeGrier was "combative... resulting in the discharging of the officer’s weapon”.

They have not said if he was armed.

Mr Legrier's mother said her son had been dealing with mental health issues.

Photo of quintonio legrier, 19, killed by police this morning. Photo was provided by his mother. @ABC7Chicago pic.twitter.com/5wzCuLHUXR

— Laura Thoren (@LauraThoren) December 26, 2015

The two victims were black, but Chicago Police have not disclosed the race of the officer who fired the fatal shots.