18-Year-Old Antonio Martin Shot And Killed By Missouri Police, Rappers React

Last night (Dec. 23), 18-year-old Antonio Martin was shot and killed by a police officer in Berkeley, Mo. Though Martin has not been publicly identified by local authorities, his mother was part of a sea of protesters who congregated at the scene late last night and into early morning.

At a press conference this morning (Dec. 24), St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar gave the following account of events:

Shortly after 11:10 p.m. local time, a police officer with the City of Berkeley was responding to a larceny call when he observed two people in a gas station parking lot on the 6800 block of North Hanley Road. The officer approached the party, at which point one man positioned himself near the passenger's side window of the officer's car. Then, Belmar says, this individual "produced a pistol with his arm straight out, pointing it straight at the officer kind of from across the hood." The officer, in turn, fired what authorities "think is three shots," striking Martin at least once. Police say the officer had lost his balance and was falling backward as he shot.

Berkeley Police had issued this officer a body camera; he was not wearing it at the time of the shooting. His cruiser's recording mechanism was also switched off. That officer, a 6-year veteran whose name has not been released, is white; Martin is black. The officer has been placed on investigative leave. Shortly after those three shots were fired, a crowd began to form in and around the parking lot.

Early reports flooded in via social media, primarily Twitter (though Vine captured several harrowing moments). The gathering quickly turned into a protest, one that clashed repeatedly with police throughout the night. Chief among the protesters' concerns was the treatment of Martin's body and the lack of medical attention he received while he was allegedly still alive; Martin was pronounced dead at the scene by EMS when they arrived some 30-plus minutes after the shooting.

[St. Louis Post-Dispatch / CNN]

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