In Ferguson: Man Shot by Police on Fringes of Protest, Police Say He Fired First

Aug. 11, 2015

In Ferguson: Man Shot by Police on Fringes of Protest, Police Say He Fired First
By Chris King St. Louis American

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Tear gas in Ferguson. PHOTO: Lawrence Bryant / St. Louis American

Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from the St. Louis American

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - A young man is in “critical, unstable” condition in a St. Louis hospital after going down in gunfire from four St. Louis County plainclothes detectives after he opened fire on them first after 11:10 p.m. on Sunday, August 9, St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said at a press conference early Monday morning.

Belmar said the man had not been identified, but approximated his age at 20. In images captured by Ferguson protestor Tony Rice after the shooting when the man was down, he appeared to be African-American.

Belmar said a 9mm semi-automatic that had been reported stolen in Cape Girardeau was recovered from the scene. Belmar said the plainclothes detectives were not wearing body cameras. The department has 75 body cameras for 850 officers, he said.

Belmar said the detectives ranged in experience from 6 to 12 years, but declined to answer any questions about them. He said they had been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.

Belmar said the man was shot behind the building at 9200 West Florissant Ave. during a foot chase where the man continued to fire at the detectives, who exited the vehicle after the man fired on them first, Belmar said.

Belmar said the man had been involved in a previous exchange of gun fire between two groups on West Florissant Avenue during a protest to commemorate one year since the Ferguson Police killing of unarmed teen Michael Brown Jr. This exchange of gunfire was heard live on television broadcasts and social media posts.

Belmar said the man had been monitored previously by the plainclothes detectives because he appeared to be armed. Belmar said the man was followed in an unmarked SUV when he ran away from that gunfight. Belmar said the man then opened fire on the unmarked SUV after detectives activated its emergency lights.

Belmar distanced the shootings from the protests. When asked if detectives were monitoring this man and his associates because they were protestors, Belmar said, “It’s not difficult to monitor protestors, they aren’t hiding anything. These were criminals, not protestors. Protestors are people out talking about ways to effect positive change.”

“Too many people worked too hard for this to happen,” Belmar said. “I meet with these groups weekly.”

Belmar worked hard at community engagement leading up to the one year anniversary of Brown’s death and the resulting protests. His command of police response to Ferguson protests last August was harshly criticized by the Department of Justice for escalating tensions by militant tactics, such as deploying snipers on Tactical vehicles during peaceful daylight protests.

Going into the anniversary weekend, Belmar told The American that Ferguson Interim Police Chief Andre Anderson would command police response to protests in Ferguson and Belmar would support Anderson as needed. Belmar said he would deploy Tactical units and larger, militaristic vehicles only if needed.

Mostly peaceful protests on Friday and Saturday were marred by an unrelated civilian shooting on Saturday. The protests on Sunday were edgier and more militant, and police had donned riot gear before the shootings. As Belmar was addressing the media early Monday morning, the scene at the protest had deteriorated, with police deploying tear gas and reportedly firing less lethal rounds at protestors.

Earlier Sunday evening, St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Paul Hampel was assaulted and robbed in an unrelated incident while covering the protest.

Belmar said the man who was shot by detectives was with a group of other armed individuals who are dangerous, and he asked the public to come forward with any images or information about them.

“There is a small group of people out there,” Belmar said, “who do not want peace to prevail.”