New Fatal Police Shooting Raises Tensions in St. Louis

It came as protesters gathered to mark the anniversary of a different one
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Aug 19, 2015 6:05 PM CDT
New Fatal Police Shooting Raises Tensions in St. Louis
St. Louis police gather at the scene of a fatal officer-involved shooting Wednesday.   (David Carson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

St. Louis police shot to death a black man today who allegedly pointed a gun at officers, raising tensions on a day when protesters were already gathering to mark the anniversary of another fatal police shooting, reports the Post-Dispatch. In today's shooting, police say they were serving a search warrant on a house when two men ran from the home. One of them turned during the chase and raised his gun, at which point the two white officers pursuing him opened fire, say police.

"What I know right now is that somebody pointed a gun at police officers," says police chief Sam Dotson. Police recovered crack cocaine and guns from the home. About 200 protesters gathered near the scene after the shooting, reports KTVI. The protesters already had been out in force to mark the one-year anniversary of the fatal shooting of Kajieme Powell. Police say Powell had been waving a knife at officers when they opened fire. (More police shooting stories.)

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