US Police Shooting Reignites Racial Anger


US Police Shooting Reignites Racial Anger

TEHRAN (Tasnim) - The US state of Missouri is bracing for a new wave of racial unrest after another black teenager was killed by an off-duty white cop.

The shooting of Venderrit D. Myers, the third fatal incident of a black male by Missouri police, happened as activists and other protesters prepared for four days of rallies starting on Friday, over the shooting of Michael Brown two months ago.

Police said Myers was shot on Wednesday after he opened fire on a white, off-duty officer, but Myers' parents said he was unarmed.

Some activists and politicians said Myers was targeted because he was black and were asking the Justice Department to investigate the shooting, Al Jazeera reported.

"This here was racial profiling turned deadly," said state Sen. Jamilah Nasheed.

Police said Myers was both armed and aggressive, using a stolen 9mm gun to shoot at the officer, however, Syreeta Myers told the AP news agency by phone on Thursday that her son was holding a sandwich, not a gun.

St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson said the officer spotted Myers and two other males, and became suspicious when one of them started to run.

When the officer made a U-turn, all three ran and the officer chased them in his car and then on foot, Dotson said.

During the chase, he got into a physical altercation with Myers, who reportedly ran up a hill, turned and fired at the officer, the chief said.

The officer, who was not hurt, shot back and fatally struck Myers. The officer fired off 17 rounds but it's not clear how many bullets hit Myers.

Ballistic evidence shows Myers fired three shots before his gun jammed, Dotson said. Police said they recovered the 9mm gun, which had been reported stolen on September 26.

 

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