MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A white Alabama police officer charged with killing a black man gave two conflicting accounts of the shooting to a state investigator, the agent testified Thursday.

Officer Aaron Smith is charged with murder in the Feb. 25 death of 58-year-old Greg Gunn. After a hearing, Judge Jimmy Pool ruled therewas probable cause for a grand jury to review the charge.

Smith initially said he had struggled with Gunn on the ground before the two men separated and Gunn ran to a nearby porch, where he picked up an extendable painting stick and swung it at Smith’s head, State Bureau of Investigation agent Jason DiNunzio testified.

Smith said he ducked the swing, backed up, and fired at least seven shots, according to his initial statement.

But in Smith’s second statement, he said there was no physical struggle and said he ‘‘was not sure’’ if Gunn swung the pole at him, according to DiNunzio’s testimony. ‘‘Based on the facts as Officer Smith was describing them, I don’t believe he had enough probable cause to use deadly force,’’ he said.

Associated Press