On December 23, 2014, police shot and killed Antonio Martin, an 18-year-old resident of Berkeley, Missouri. The shooting, which occurred just a couple miles outside of Ferguson, has sparked more protests against police brutality. The cop responsible for killing Martin is 34 years old and white.
At the time of the shooting did not have a body camera turned on to witness the event. Sources claim that following the August shooting of teenager Michael Brown, the St. Louis police officers were supposed to begin wearing body cameras.
Witness statements contradict police statements, leading to more confusion about the case. Police claim that Martin pulled a gun on the police officer, and witnesses claim that Martin was not even armed. Disturbingly, witnesses also report that Martin was alive for nearly half an hour after he was shot; however, the police did not seek medical help for the young man.
The St. Louis County Police Department released a video in which it claims that Martin can be seen pulling out a gun. Viewers are skeptical, claiming that the video is not easy to decipher and that they cannot see a gun in the clip. In either case, many people want to know why the police officer’s mandatory body camera was not on.