A man has died after an officer-involved shooting in northern St. Louis.
The shooting occurred earlier this afternoon, with the community already reeling from the August 9 shooting death of teenager Michael Brown at the hands of Ferguson, Mo. police officer Darren Wilson. The man killed was the suspect in an as-yet-unreported crime, and there were no other injured parties.
According to St. Louis Chief of Police Sam Dotson, the suspect brandished a knife at officers before being shot:
Officer involved shooting in the sixth district. Suspect brandished knife at @slmpd officers. No officers injured. Investigation is ongoing.
— Chief Sam Dotson (@ChiefSLMPD) August 19, 2014
The crime scene is about four miles away from Ferguson, but it is not known at this time if there is any connection between the two. We’ll have more updates as they become available.
UPDATE:
Reports are starting to emerge regarding what led to officers firing on the suspect:
Chief Dotson: Suspect was acting erratically, carrying knife. When officers arrived, suspect told police "shoot me now, kill me now."
— Rob Edwards (@RobertDEdwards) August 19, 2014
Officers drew weapons when knife was pulled, @ChiefSLMPD says. Suspect was within 3-4 feet of the officers, struck at them. Officers fired.
— Erica Smith (@ericasmith) August 19, 2014
UPDATE 2:
We're now learning more about the suspect involved in the shooting, as well as the rough timeline of the encounter that led to police opening fire:
Suspect is 23 year old African-American.
— Adrienne Broaddus (@abroaddus) August 19, 2014
Eye witness tells me the deceased victim stole soda from Six Star Market but put it back.
— Adrienne Broaddus (@abroaddus) August 19, 2014
Neighborhood people saying he was mentally challenged. Saying "Hands up! don't shoot!" Tense bad scene here.
— Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) August 19, 2014
Both officers fired shots.
— Adrienne Broaddus (@abroaddus) August 19, 2014
[via KSDK]
