Berkeley, Missouri Police have released a statement in the shooting death of black teenager Antonio Martin.
While the statement does not mention Martin by name, only referring to him as "the deceased," media reports have linked the statement and the shooting death of Martin.
Early on December 24, Sergeant Brian Schellman, a public information coordinator for the Berkeley Police Department had this to say.
"At approximately 11:15 PM on December 23, 2014, a police officer with the City of Berkeley was conducting a routine business check at the Mobile Gas Station located at 6800 N. Hanley when he observed two male subjects on the side of the building. The Berkeley Police Officer exited his vehicle and approached the subjects when one of the men pulled a handgun and pointed it at the officer. Fearing for his life, the Berkeley Officer fired several shots, striking the subject, fatally wounding him. The second subject fled the scene. The Berkeley Police Department requested the St. Louis County Police Department's Crimes Against Persons Unit to handle the investigation. St. Louis County Police Detectives have recovered the deceased subject's handgun at the scene. At this time, I cannot confirm the identity of the deceased subject. The investigation is ongoing and further details will follow later this morning as they become available."
#BREAKING Police release statement on shooting death of #AntonioMartin #Missouri #Berkeley pic.twitter.com/G5meCECc3Y
— Chris Shepherd (@ChrisShepherd) December 24, 2014
— Chris Shepherd (@ChrisShepherd) December 24, 2014
"The officer then began to step back from us with his gun still aimed at us. He told Antonio to lay down once again and when Antonio didn't lay down the officer opened fire. And when I tried to get up to help my friend he screamed at me to stay down with his weapon still drawn."
Earliest account I've found of what happened tonight. #AntonioMartin pic.twitter.com/iCPPBFtJNz — Shaun King (@ShaunKing) December 24, 2014
Angry clashes after police shoot and kill Antonio Martin in Berkeley, Missouri http://t.co/HduqCFP03e pic.twitter.com/JsBnSHQydh
— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 24, 2014
— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 24, 2014
I was misled and made a foolish error. Thank you all for pointing this out. I am correcting the story to reflect as much.
— Sebastian Murdock (@SebastianMurdoc) December 24, 2014
— Sebastian Murdock (@SebastianMurdoc) December 24, 2014
