Last Night A Cop Killed A Black Missouri Teen For Pointing A Gun At Him
Last night in Berkeley, Missouri, outside a Mobil gas station, an 18-year-old Black male pointed a gun at a police officer. The officer then fired three shots at the man, one of which killed him on the scene. The deceased has been identified by his mother as Antonio Martin who “was known to police for various charges including weapons and stealing.”
Here is the play-by-play of what is happening in the video according to the St. Louis County Police and which appears to be verified by the security tape:
From the videotape released by St. Louis County Police and Belmar’s description, the officer was near the front driver’s side of the vehicle and the suspect was on the other side, near the car’s headlights, when the shooting occurred.
As the officer points his gun, he is backing away and loses his balance, Belmar said. As he fell, he dropped his flashlight and fired off at least three shots.
After the shooting, between 200 and 300 protesters arrived on the scene and confronted officers. A nearby QuickTrip store was also vandalized prior to police preventing access to it. Per the St. Louis Dispatch:
Between 200 and 300 protesters gathered at the scene after the shooting, and conflicts broke out between officers and protesters, Belmar said.
Four people were arrested for assaulting officers, and at least one officer was injured when he tried to get away from some sort of firework device set off on the parking lot, Belmar said.
Protesters also threw some bricks at officers, Belmar said. Police used pepper spray on the crowd but did not use any tear gas, the chief said.
He also said several police cars were damaged, and some protesters brought bags of rocks to the scene.
Below is video of Antonio’s mother and the protesters confronting police. Four individuals were arrested and one police officer was injured when protesters set off what appears to be fireworks near the gas pumps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11x-ULqColM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHNaVk2FBMI
It is illegal in the state of Missouri to conceal and carry a pistol without a permit.