Officer kills armed teen near Ferguson

 

A white police officer shot and killed an armed, 18-year-old black man Tuesday night in a Missouri town that borders Ferguson, the site of this summer’s police-involved shooting that sparked protests and a heated national debate about race relations.

{mosads}Police say the officer approached two men outside of a gas station in Berkeley, Mo., and one of them pulled out a gun and pointed it at the officer. The St. Louis County Police statement said the officer, who was “fearing for his life,” shot and killed the armed man.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that protests developed outside of the gas station and that someone set off “explosive flashes.”

St. Louis County police Sgt. Brian Schellman told the Dispatch that police will release video footage from surveillance cameras at the gas station soon. He added that he believes the officer did not draw his gun before he approached the men and only pulled out his weapon once the man with the gun did so.

Police are still looking for the second man, who ran off when the officer fired.

During a press conference Wednesday morning, Berkeley Mayor Theodore Hoskins said that the officer “may have saved” his own life by firing first and emphasized that despite the proximity to Ferguson, he believes this issue is different. Police said the victim drew a 9mm handgun on the officer.

Hoskins confirmed reports that the officer had a body camera but wasn’t wearing it at the time of the incident. The mayor said that he wasn’t concerned that the officer didn’t have his body camera because officers had surveillance video that would likely mirror footage from a body camera. He added that once officers are better trained about body cameras, officers who don’t wear one will be punished.

The St. Louis area has been filled with protests after this summer’s shooting of Michael Brown. Brown, 18, was unarmed when he had a confrontation with Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, who ultimately shot him. A grand jury decided not to indict Wilson, a decision which again inflamed protests in the area, some of which turned into violent clashes with police officers.

Last updated at 11:14 a.m.

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