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BWC: Man grabs gun while resisting, Mo. officers plead with him to drop it before fatal OIS

The man produced a firearm during a struggle with St. Louis County PD officers; when he began to pull away while still maintaining control of the gun, officers opened fire

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.”

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Joanna Putman is an Associate Editor and newswriter at Police1, where she has been covering law enforcement topics since August 2023. Based in Orlando, Florida, she holds a journalism degree from the University of Florida and spent two years working in nonprofit local newsrooms, gaining experience in community-focused reporting. Married to a law enforcement officer, she works hard to highlight the challenges and triumphs of those who serve and protect. Have a news tip? Email her at news@lexipol.com