St. Louis police kill man with a knife, increasing tensions in Ferguson

In a development sure to only fuel protests against policing in the United States, police in St. Louis, Missouri shot and killed a mentally disturbed, young, black man brandishing a knife.

The New York Times reports that the man was a 23-year-old with a history of mental problems and emotional outbursts. The incident took place at a small St. Louis store called the Six Stars Market shortly after 12:30 p.m. local time.

Two officers arrived on the scene, where the man was holding a knife and continually refused to adhere to the officers' orders that he drop the weapon. The police say he was shot after he came within three or four feet of the officers on the scene.

Bloomberg reports that the victim was said to have shouted, "Kill me now." The Times reports that he demanded the police, "Shoot me," multiple times as well.

Given the tensions in Ferguson, about 10 miles outside St. Louis, this incident will serve to bring only more people into the streets in protest. A crowd gathered at the market shortly after the shooting demanding answers about the incident.

The Times reports that in an effort to undermine this anger, and prevent the civil unrest in the area from worsening, the St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson addressed the crowd and provided as much information as was available.

Tensions remain high in Ferguson and the surrounding communities after the shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown, despite the deployment of National Guard troops to the region by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon.

Protests the night of Aug. 18 and morning of Aug. 19 saw 56 people arrested by the police, according to Reuters. That included a number of journalists such as a Getty photographer and a reporter for The Intercept.

Reuters reports that of those 56, 15 were from outside Missouri, although the most serious charges, involving the use of a weapon were brought against local residents.