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BERKELEY, Mo. (AP) — Police in the St. Louis suburb of Berkeley, Missouri, are offering more details of last night's fatal shooting of a black 18-year-old by a white police officer.
The shooting led to violent protests last night and early today.
Police say the officer was questioning the 18-year-old and another man about a theft last night at a convenience store when the young man pulled a 9-milimeter handgun on him. According to the county police chief, Jon Belmar, the officer stumbled backward but fired three shots -- one of which hit the man.
He's not identifying the 18-year-old, but confirms that he was black. A woman at the scene told reporters that she was his mother, and identified him as Antonio Martin.
It's the third fatal shooting of a black suspect by a white police officer in the St. Louis area since Michael Brown was killed in Ferguson. Each shooting has been met by protests.
More than 50 police officers, some in riot gear, responded to last night's protests. Video showed some wrestling with protesters. Belmar said officers used pepper spray but not tear gas. Four people were arrested on charges of assaulting officers.
%@AP Links
127-a-08-(Chief Jon Belmar, St. Louis County police, at news conference)-"in the magazine"-St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar says the man who was killed by police had a gun. (24 Dec 2014)
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126-a-18-(Chief Jon Belmar, St. Louis County police, at news conference)-"is three shots"-St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar explains what happened shortly after officers responded to what was a larceny call. ((note cut length)) (24 Dec 2014)
<<CUT *126 (12/24/14)££ 00:18 "is three shots"
APPHOTO MOSTP205: Police try to control a crowd Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014, on the lot of a gas station following a shooting Tuesday in Berkeley, Mo. St. Louis County police say a man who pulled a gun and pointed it at an officer has been killed. (AP Photo/St. Louis Post-Dispatch, David Carson) (24 Dec 2014)
<<APPHOTO MOSTP205 (12/24/14)££
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