2 Years After Ferguson, Another St. Louis Teen Shot by Cops

By now, it almost reads like a television script: police are called to investigative a carjacking or some other crime, when they stumble upon a young Black man or teenager who they suspect is the culprit. The accused–armed or unarmed, it doesn't seem to make a whit of difference–  attempts to flee and is then shot, sometimes multiple times, by cops, usually fatally.

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This urban morality tale played out again Sunday morning in the city of St. Louis, two years after the police killing of Michael Brown. A 14-year old Black boy is in critical, but stable, condition.

The boy was the suspect  in a carjacking that, as it turned out, he had nothing to do with. The police, who  were not equipped with body cameras, charged the boy as he fled, and as they closed in, he turned and fired a single shot at the officers. 

The officers, “(fear) for their safety” and returned fire, but unlle the teenager, they did not miss, the boy was shot multiple times. They have since been placed on administrative leave. while police investigate the shooting.

From authorities, the incident has sparked conversations around youth and their access to guns.

“A 14-year-old with a gun I think really goes to the conversation about the epidemic of violence that we have in our community,” Police Chief Sam Dotson told reporters. “That a 14-year-old has access to a gun or feels the need to have a gun, and certainly when officers approach, running or pointing that gun at officers, it does nobody in the community any good.”

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For their part, the community has voiced concerns about the police account. Nearly 50 people gathered near the scene of the shooting Sunday, many skeptical and demanding more answers.

“They need them body cameras,” said Cassandra Barton, one of the people gathered. “Then they wouldn’t have this problem.”