BELLEVILLE, Ill. — Video has been posted to the website of KMOV-TV
in which an officer can be heard repeatedly giving commands to a male
subject to “put it down” before discharging his service weapon once,
striking the man in the chest. The subject was reportedly transported
to a local hospital, where he later died.The man, who has yet to be identified by name, was allegedly
intoxicated outside a local bar with a second subject, both of whom were
reportedly kicking cars and attempting to damage property when police
arrived. A brief foot pursuit ensued, and the confrontation happened
when one of the two suspects threatened officers with a weapon. The
second suspect was apparently taken into custody without further
incident.
The officer, who has been with the force since 2004, has been placed on administrative leave.