More Trouble in Missouri as Cops Kill Man 2 Miles from Ferguson (VIDEO)
Tensions in Ferguson, MO, which had begun to calm after weeks of unrest and demonstrations after the shooting of Michael Brown and the failure to indict Darren Wilson, are set to catch fire again after the police in nearby Berkeley, MO killed a young black man.
Berkeley is only two miles from Ferguson.
Vox reports that while video surveillance footage from across the parking lot of where the shooting took place appears to show someone gesturing as if they have a gun. The video, which was released by the St. Louis County Police Department, ends right after that gesture is made, leaving ambiguity as to what occurred next. You can watch that video below.
Although the video seems to match up with the police's veriion of events, protesters on the ground are demanding the release of other video, taken from cameras they say are directly above and focused on the location of the shooting.
Do you see how far away that video was?! THESE cameras were 5 FEET AWAY FROM THE INCIDENT! #AntonioMartin pic.twitter.com/RiNkU5RSSJ
— Dr. Cornel Fresh (@WyzeChef) December 24, 2014
In an eery similarity to the Michael Brown shooting which is sure to contribute to increased tensions among the community, Vox reports the victim, Rolando Martin, was left on the ground outside the gas station for two hours. Some people are also alleging that Martin was alive after the shooting but the officer involved did not immediately call for an ambulance and medical personnel only arrived on the scene 90 minutes later.
Vox reports that the officer involved in the shooting had a body camera, widely seen as a solution to incidents such as the Michael Brown case, but did not have it on his person, and may not have even had the camera activated at all.
In a sign that tensions will most likely increase, a crowd gathered at the scene shortly after the shooting and threw rocks and small explosives at the police. Video of the brick throwing and explosions can be seen below.