St. Louis police shot and killed a young African-American man Tuesday after authorities say he brandished a knife.
“The suspect, who right now is described as a 23-year-old African American, was acting erratically — walking back and forth up and down the street,” St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson told reporters.
“As officers arrived, the suspect turned towards the officers and started to walk towards them clutching his waistband. He then pulled out a knife … and told the officers, ‘Shoot me now. Kill me now,'” the chief said.
The officers told the man, repeatedly, to stop and drop the knife, but he continued to approach, coming within about four feet of one of the officers, Dotson said, adding that both officers then fired their weapons, striking the suspect.
The investigation is ongoing.
The shooting took place not far from Ferguson, Missouri, where the death of teenager Michael Brown has touched off violent nightly protests.
