New killing of a Black man sparks unrest in St. Louis

St. Louis police on Wednesday killed a Black man, claiming he pointed a weapon at officers, sparking protests and continuing racial tensions that arose a year ago when a Black man was also killed in nearby Ferguson, reports the Patria News Agency.

St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson stated that the shooting occurred while police were conducting a search in a neighborhood known for its high crime rate, when two young Black men fled out the back door of the house that was the target of the search.

Officers ordered the young men to stop in an alley behind the house, and then one of them pointed a gun at the officers, who then shot him four times and killed him, Dotson said.

Regardless of the police explanation, dozens of people gathered near the scene of the killing, protesting the police's actions, local media reported.

SWAT police with armored vehicles demanded that the crowd disperse, and some of the demonstrators were detained.