Video released by St Louis County - Berkeley shooting (updated)

[pintobean]

It freezes with the young man's arm extended, presumably holding a gun.

Published on Dec 24, 2014

Surveillance video from officer-involved shooting in Berkeley, Missouri. This video shows the suspect pointing a gun at the officer.
More information on the incident:
At approximately 11:15 PM on December 23, 2014, a police officer with the City of Berkeley was conducting a routine business check at the Mobile Gas Station located at 6800 N. Hanley when he observed two male subjects on the side of the building. The Berkeley Police Officer exited his vehicle and approached the subjects when one of the men pulled a handgun and pointed it at the officer. Fearing for his life, the Berkeley Officer fired several shots, striking the subject, fatally wounding him. The second subject fled the scene. The Berkeley Police Department requested the St. Louis County Police Department's Crimes Against Persons Unit to handle the investigation. St. Louis County Police Detectives have recovered the deceased subject's handgun at the scene. At this time, I cannot confirm the identity of the deceased subject. The investigation is on-going and further details will follow as they become available.

Here's a cropped screen cap:

To the right of the 9, you can see the extended arm holding something.

[morningfog]

1. I wonder why the cop was stopping them in the first place.

[Sherman A1]

2. according the the just completed news conference

the officer was called to the Mobil station for a reported stealing, more details will be released later when they become available.

[exboyfil]

3. He had a body camera but he was not wearing it

Irrespective of what actually happened in this case, officers must be held accountable for not using their body cams.

It appears that he may be fortunate in having the security footage from the store.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/12/24/man-shot-killed-berkeley/20849045/

[Taitertots]

5. Intentionally left his body camera! FIRE HIM NOW

He intentionally left the camera = premeditated murder.

[exboyfil]

6. I can't say it is premeditated murder

but I do agree that he needs to be disciplined just like any officer who does not wear their camera irrespective of whether there is an incident or not. Audits should be in place for verification of compliance. Also, like in civil trials in which documents are destroyed when they are under subpoena, presumption should shift to the officer having to prove they acted in a lawful fashion. Being an LEO should carry obligations as well as the right to use force in the performance of their job.

[DawgHouse]

8. Well, that escalated quickly. nt

[Taitertots]

16. It escalated to a reasonable level

Intentionally ignoring procedure = Reasonable grounds for termination
Intentionally ignoring procedure and killing someone = Reasonable grounds for murder charges

[uponit7771]

17. They also are not pulling the dashboard cam video either!!! Nah, reasonable escalation

[backwoodsbob]

20. so not wearing his camera is a murder conviction without trial?

I thought this was a progressive site...not a kneejerk go with the crowd site?

[uponit7771]

13. WOOOOOOOOOWWWWW! Had a body cam, decided NOT to wear it, kills a person... FREAKIN WOW

[pintobean]

4. Kick for added info and pic

[Ykcutnek]

9. This is not another Michael Brown or Eric Garner case.

Not even close.

[uppityperson]

10. can you tell what is in his hand? stick, gun, phone, blob? it all looks fuzzy to me

[Ykcutnek]

11. No, but we need to be careful about which incidents we raise a stink about.

Because if it turns out it was a gun, we'll look like a bunch of fools and the boot lickers will smugly rub our faces in it.

There's plenty of incidents in which unarmed black men and women are murdered by police for no reason.

Plenty.

[uponit7771]

14. Starting to look VERY MUCH like that, cop was assigned body cam and didn't wear it. there's no proof

... that there was a gun involved and it seems like the Kid was an honor student

We'll see

[951-Riverside]

12. Why the fuck would they freeze it at the most important part?

RELEASE THE WHOLE DAMN VIDEO UNEDITED!

[uponit7771]

15. Because the pics they have put out shows the supposed gun on the other side of the car!!

...also

The cop was assigned a body cam and decided not to wear it..

Both of those accounts are from the area's PDs... no just some bunk witness either...

[uponit7771]

18. Update Witness's Girlfriend said the police messed with him for no reason...

Some reports, however, said some eyewitnesses disputed that account.

A woman who identified herself as the victim's mother, Toni Martin, said her son was running when her was shot and killed.

"His girlfriend told me that the police was messing with them," Martin said on CNN.

"When he was trying to get up and run, they started shooting him. They won't tell me nothing. They won't even let me see my baby."

[pintobean]

19. I can't imagine

a supposed witness would say anything that doesn't match the forensic and/or video evidence.