Libya’s public prosecutor confirmed early on Wednesday that Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, was killed after being shot, Libya’s state news agency reported.

In a statement, the prosecutor’s office said investigators launched an inquiry after receiving a report of the death of Saif al-Islam Muammar Gaddafi, 53, carrying out inspections, collecting evidence, and questioning witnesses as part of a preliminary investigation.

The office said the investigation was conducted alongside forensic doctors and experts in weapons, fingerprints, toxicology and other relevant scientific fields, confirming that the victim sustained fatal gunshot wounds.

Sources close to Saif al-Islam’s family said on Tuesday evening that he was killed in the garden of his home near the western Libyan town of Zintan.