Officer kills armed 18-year-old near Ferguson

[Jazzy]

Officer kills armed 18-year-old near Ferguson

Violent protests broke out in suburban St. Louis after another black 18-year-old was fatally shot by a white police officer.

St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said the officer was questioning the 18-year-old and another man about a theft late Tuesday at a convenience store in Berkeley when the young man pulled a 9mm handgun on him. The officer stumbled backward but fired three shots, one of which struck the victim, Belmar said.

Police released surveillance video from the parking lot outside the store. The nearly two-minute clip shows two young men leaving the store at about the time a police car rolls up. The officer gets out and speaks with them. About a minute-and-a-half later, the video appears to show one of the men raising his arm, though what he is holding is difficult to see because they were several feet from the camera. Belmar said it was a 9mm handgun.

The other man ran away, and police are searching for him.

It was the third fatal shooting of a black suspect by a white police officer in the St. Louis area since Brown was killed. Kajaime Powell, 25, was killed Aug. 9 after approaching St. Louis officers with a knife. Vonderrit Myers Jr., 18, was fatally shot Oct. 8 after allegedly shooting at a St. Louis officer.

Each shooting has been met by protests, and a crowd quickly gathered late Tuesday and early Wednesday in Berkeley. The demonstration involving up to 300 people turned violent.

More than 50 police officers, some in riot gear, responded. Video showed some wrestling with protesters. Belmar said officers used pepper spray but not tear gas. Four people were arrested on charges of assaulting officers.

The protest spilled to a neighboring convenience store where a man in a hoodie set a fire inside the store. The fire was quickly put out, but the glass door was shattered.

Belmar said the 18-year-old had a considerable criminal record in the less than two years since he turned 17, with three assault charges, armed robbery, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon.

The chief said some protesters questioned why the officer couldn't use pepper spray or a stun gun.

"Frankly, that's unreasonable," Belmar said. "When we had somebody pointing a gun at a police officer, there's not a lot of time."

Berkeley has body cameras and dashboard cameras. The officer wasn't wearing his body camera, Belmar said. The dashboard camera activates when the red lights are on, and they were not on at the convenience store.

Surveillance video

Thoughts?

 

[DrLeftover]

No, see, the innocent and honorable 18 year old was giving the cop a candy cane for the holiday.

Yeah, that's it, he was giving the cop a gift, from his grandmother, yeah, that's what happened.

And the cop hadn't shot a young black man yet this week, so that's why did killed him.

What else could have happened?

 

[identityissues8]

If the man pulled a handgun on the cop - fair enough. You kinda know how the Cop is going to react.
Just assist with their inquiries.

Though, that's not what has happened in cases past. So who knows.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

If the man pulled a handgun on the cop - fair enough.

Indeed. Why are even mentioning the color of people's skins under these circumstances?

 

[Dee]

If the man pulled a handgun on the cop - fair enough. You kinda know how the Cop is going to react.
Just assist with their inquiries.

This.

You don't point a gun at a cop, period. You are then automatically asking to have one or several pointed right back at you, if not bullets flying in your direction if you don't throw your hands up in the air or drop the weapon immediately.

 

[Enter Username Here]

Lets just all be straight up about this, no racist remarks intended...

'Em black young men in Ferguson are now taunting the police force on purpose.

 

[Webster]

If the man pulled a handgun on the cop - fair enough. You kinda know how the Cop is going to react.
Just assist with their inquiries.

This.

You don't point a gun at a cop, period. You are then automatically asking to have one or several pointed right back at you, if not bullets flying in your direction if you don't throw your hands up in the air or drop the weapon immediately.

Agreed.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

Lets just all be straight up about this, no racist remarks intended...

'Em black young men in Ferguson are now taunting the police force on purpose.

And if they do not get there lifes on the right track they will be the next ones in the morgue for dumb decisions like this.

One less thug in the world is a good thing.

 

[seasidemike]

I am surprised that the police all around America aren't just doing what they are doing in New York and take a big step back.  Let the thugs and gangsters run things for a while.

If I was a cop over there, I would stop anyone for anything now, especially a visible minority. Let them do whatever, not worth the hassle. Just go grab a few coffees, talk to some nice friendly people, help some old lady cross the street, and call it a day.