St. Louis police officers shot and killed a young black man on Wednesday, reigniting simmering tensions between the community and the police in the city.
Police allege that the man pointed a gun at officers during a home search in the city's northwestern Fountain Park neighborhood.
St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson told local journalists that police were searching the residence when two suspects fled and one pointed a weapon at police. Two officers shot at the men, and one suspect died at the scene. Another person was on the loose.
Dotson said the man who died was a black man and in his early 20s. No officers were injured and four guns and crack cocaine were reportedly recovered at the scene.
Police released a detailed account to the press Wednesday afternoon.
JUST IN: St. Louis police release new information on today's deadly, officer-involved shooting. @ksdknews pic.twitter.com/PdeLW3eTCh— Rob Edwards (@RobertDEdwards) August 19, 2015
According to local journalist Mark J. Zinn, who arrived at the scene shortly after the incident, tensions were already running high just hours after the deadly shooting.
A group of individuals is refusing to let traffic through on Page at Walton. pic.twitter.com/SI6ojp9f48— Mark J. Zinn (@MarkJZinn) August 19, 2015
A group of people blocked traffic at the intersection of Page and Walton Streets. Protesters were quick to take to the streets as many had been gathered nearby at a memorial for Kajieme Powell, a 25-year-old shot and killed by police one year ago.
According to a search warrant for the multi-family home, police were looking for guns and drugs as part of an investigation.
Police Chief Dotson at the scene where an officer shot and killed a man who "pointed a gun at officers." pic.twitter.com/QpX8xRsle2— Kevin Killeen (@KMOXKilleen) August 19, 2015
Hands up don't shoot crowd yells pic.twitter.com/YvpWXXccsV— Jesse Bogan (@JesseBogan) August 19, 2015
Police wearing riot gear were working to clear the street, and officers reportedly made at least two arrests.
pic.twitter.com/AgHGTzFM8L— Search4Swag (@search4swag) August 19, 2015
Another arrest on Page. pic.twitter.com/pyLJarUSi0— Jesse Bogan (@JesseBogan) August 19, 2015
After a brief respite in the late afternoon, with protesters still gathered, police moved in with dispersion tactics after bottles were reportedly thrown at officers, including launching smoke bombs at demonstrators. There were reports of tear gas, as well as rubber bullets.
More bottles pic.twitter.com/Vz6soTRMYb— Search4Swag (@search4swag) August 20, 2015
Weapons drawn pic.twitter.com/Sz9XGMlA3Z— Search4Swag (@search4swag) August 20, 2015
Smoke bombs launched repeatedly pic.twitter.com/ypxqYJH9KJ— Brittany Packnett (@MsPackyetti) August 20, 2015
pic.twitter.com/Sb2PtbVgUM— Search4Swag (@search4swag) August 20, 2015
pic.twitter.com/pCqaL65Rw3— Search4Swag (@search4swag) August 20, 2015
Protesters also torched a car as the night came to a close, according to police.
.@ChiefSLMPD: At the end of tonight's event, protestors set a vehicle parked on the street on fire.— St. Louis, MO Police (@SLMPD) August 20, 2015
Authorities arrested nine people--seven men and two women-- for impeding traffic. One was also charged with resisting arrest.