A St. Louis teenager is dead after a Ferguson police officer opened fire on him, reportedly shooting him multiple times in his head and chest.
18-year-old Michael Brown was unarmed when he was killed.
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGE BELOW
The shooting occurred around noon at the Canfield Green Apartment Complex.
According to Ferguson resident La’Toya Cash, he was shot 10 times by Ferguson Police.
Brown, a 2014 graduate of Normandy High School, was scheduled to begin classes at Vatterott College on Monday.
According to Dorian Johnson, he was walking with Brown when an officer confronted them and drew his weapon.
“He (the officer) shot again and once my friend felt that shot, he turned around and put his hands in the air,” said Johnson. “He started to get down and the officer still approached with his weapon drawn and fired several more shots.”
“He was a good kid. He didn’t live around here,” said Desuirea Harris, grandmother of the victim. “He came to visit me and they did that to him for no reason.”
Family, friends and members of the community have all gathered at the scene to grieve the death of Brown.
The peaceful gathering prompted the response of police from 15 other police departments and riot-control officers.
According to local news outlet KMOV:
News 4’s Cory Stark, who is on the scene, said he saw a man lying dead on Coppercreek Road…According to Stark, there are at least 100 police cars and numerous officers armed with M-16’s in the area.
In the below video from witnesses at the scene, officers with shotguns and police dogs patrol the streets as residents hold their hands in the air as a precaution.
Witnesses also say the victim had his hands in the air when he was shot multiple times by the officer.
“He was a good kid. He didn’t live around here,” said Desuirea Harris, grandmother of the victim. “He came to visit me and they did that to him for no reason.”
The St. Louis County NAACP has launched an investigation of the shooting.
President Esther Haywood released the following statement:
“We are hurt to hear that yet another teenaged boy has been slaughtered by law enforcement especially in light of the recent death of Eric Garner in New York who was killed for selling cigarettes. We plan to do everything within our power to ensure that the Ferguson Police Department as well as the St. Louis County Police Department releases all details pertinent to the shooting. We strongly encourage residents to stay away from the crime scene so that no additional citizens are injured. I have spoken directly with St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar, and I am confident that both he and his department will ensure that the investigation is conducted properly and that all details are kept transparent.”
St. Louis County Police are currently handling the investigation into the shooting. The officer who fatally shot Brown has since been placed on administrative leave.
Since the tragic incident occurred, there have been numerous conflicting reports as to what actually happened between Mike and the officers responsible for his death. To stay up-to-date on new developments, we advise you to look beyond CNN and mainstream news outlets.
We’ll be doing our best to bring you the most pertinent updates.
UPDATE: Rioting has begun.
At least two officers suffered injuries and 32 people were arrested after a prayer vigil for an 18-year-old killed by a Ferguson police officer escalated into rioting and looting Sunday night in Ferguson, Missouri.
Brian Schellman, with the St. Louis County Police Department, said close to 300 police officers from at least 15 different departments were called to Ferguson when angry mobs began smashing windows, setting fires and looting businesses in the area.
