ST. LOUIS— The St. Louis County Police Department released body camera footage from a fatal officer-involved shooting of a man who grabbed a gun while resisting arrest, First Alert 4 reported.
Police say two uniformed officers were investigating reports of harassment and vehicle tampering when they contacted the suspect. Officers informed the man that he was under arrest and gave repeated commands for him to exit his home.
Video shows the man fleeing back into his home after an officer reached for his arm to take him into custody. The officers grabbed the man, who had produced a hidden handgun.
A struggle ensued inside the residence, with officers wrestling the suspect to the ground while trying to disarm him. One officer deployed a TASER, but the suspect continued to resist.
“Drop the gun! Please stop! This isn’t worth it,” officers can be heard saying.
The man was able to pull away from officers while still maintaining control of the firearm. At that point, both officers fired shots, fatally striking the man.
Following the release of the video, the suspect’s in-laws issued a statement expressing sorrow over the incident and highlighting the role of mental illness.
“We were deeply saddened by the choices [the man] made in his final moments, and we are grateful to the officers who gave him every opportunity to choose a different outcome,” the family said. “We have learned this is often how untreated mental illness ends, and we encourage anyone struggling to listen to their loved ones and seek the help they need.”
