As we noted previously, just days after the fatal shooting of Mike Brown in Ferguson [3], a 2nd officer-involved shooting ended in death for the suspect just miles from Ferguson. St.Louis Police Department - in the interests of transparency - have released video of both the alleged shoplifting and the so-called 'suicide-by-cop' shooting itself [3] of 25-year-old Kajieme Powell.."Powell approached the officers when they arrived, yelling at them to shoot him already. When he ignored commands to drop the knife, the two officers fired a total of 12 shots."
As St.Louis public radio reports, [4]
Powell was suspected of shoplifting energy drinks and donuts from a convenience store. The shop owner, believing that Powell was carrying a weapon, contacted police.
Another witness, Ald. Dionne Flowers, who represents the area and owns a beauty salon in the same block, noticed that Powell was acting erratically and also called police. Flowers told police she saw a second knife, though only one was recovered at the scene.
Powell approached the officers when they arrived, yelling at them to shoot him already.
When he ignored commands to drop the knife, the two officers fired a total of 12 shots. Chief Sam Dotson said the knife was like a steak knife.
The security camera footage of the alleged shoplifting.
Cell phone footage of the shooting itself (the police start around 1:00)
Note: this contains both graphic language and violence.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said it will act with complete transparency.
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We also note that AG Holder has already left Ferguson - having met with Mike Brown's family.
And, as Bloomberg reports, [5]
A grand jury will begin hearing evidence tomorrow in the police shooting death of Ferguson, Missouri, teenager Michael Brown, as violent clashes continued in the St. Louis suburb.
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