The hashtag #shawshooting was trending late tonight after south St. Louis residents took to the streets following a fatal, officer-involved shooting incident. News consumers should learn from the past and be wary of inflammatory claims made by overzealous advocates on all sides. But, alas, many won’t.
Here’s the story for now. The victim’s name has been identified as VonDeritt Myers. He was reportedly holding a sandwich, which was reportedly mistaken for a gun.
Fatal officer involved shooting in south St. Louis leads to crowd unrest #STL http://t.co/9SdgsgfgCN
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) October 9, 2014
https://twitter.com/sfhouldsworth/status/520086792381681664
I see @Stltoday changed the victim's name to Vonderrit Myers. Can anyone confirm that is correct? #shawshooting #16times
— Sean (@SeanSharesStuff) October 9, 2014
Wearing a hoodie, walking in the street, playing w/ toys & eating a sandwich are now Capital Offense. #ShawShooting #16Times #VonderritMyers
— #RIPBassemMasri ? (@Delo_Taylor) October 9, 2014
And here’s the scene at the intersection of Shaw and Klemm, plus the surrounding area where marchers have gathered. Not all of them are congregating “peacefully,” unfortunately.
Pray for nonviolence, no more death tonight. Violence will not solve this But there will be no peace until deep truth is told & change made
— Mike Kinman (@MKinman) October 9, 2014
RT @Patricialicious: They just broke out the back window of a police truck.
— Michael Calhoun (@michaelcalhoun) October 9, 2014
Protesters marching down middle of Grand, police have traffic shut down, but there is no police presence pic.twitter.com/Dmgh9VJoOI
— David Carson (@PDPJ) October 9, 2014
https://twitter.com/ryanfrank314/status/520086323508830208
Grand Ave shut down at 44 protesters confronting police pic.twitter.com/eH4Q7XCswg
— David Carson (@PDPJ) October 9, 2014
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Suspect's aunt cries: "they shot my Drew 16 times. All he had was a sandwich" ; fatal police shooting Klemm&Shaw So StL @FOX2now
— Andy Banker (@andybankertv) October 9, 2014
Threats at police hurled from crowd at shooting scene at Shaw&Klemm in SoSTL; officer wrkng 2dary security shot,killed suspect @FOX2now
— Andy Banker (@andybankertv) October 9, 2014
#shawshooting "All you need to know" and why things aren't adding up. pic.twitter.com/Fbj17KAyXC
— 6’4 (@iEat2please) October 9, 2014
Crowd is breaking windows on an @SLMPD car.
— Rachel Lippmann (@rlippmann) October 9, 2014
Crowd gathered at Klemm and Shaw near site of fatal shooting by @SLMPD officer. pic.twitter.com/ccJxX9R0jh
— Rachel Lippmann (@rlippmann) October 9, 2014
At Klemm and Shaw, just heard several shots south of me in Shaw.
— Valerie Schremp Hahn ? (@valeriehahn) October 9, 2014
Glass from back window of squad car #shawshooting pic.twitter.com/4ePqBKhm6o
— Mariah Randi Stewart (@MzzzMariah) October 9, 2014
Chanting "Our Streets!" and walking down #Shaw avenue. #shawshooting #STL pic.twitter.com/Eft94dGxJX
— Matthew Wyczalkowski (@MaciekStL) October 9, 2014
https://twitter.com/akacharleswade/status/520069661795553280
Intersection of grand and gravois shut down #shawshooting pic.twitter.com/8c64wSjuZP
— Mariah Randi Stewart (@MzzzMariah) October 9, 2014
There have been Twitter calls for “avenging” the victim’s death.
https://twitter.com/TheAnonMessage/status/520076329908445185
@TheAnonMessage We have already begun !!! #shutitdown
— |LΔĸoтΔ S3C (@Lakota_Sec) October 9, 2014
Sure it is RT@onthewrite: Vengeance is not justice. #VonderritMyers
— Fight Me IRL (@DillEsq) October 9, 2014
A plea for calm. Let’s hope it’s not futile.
Stay safe and calm. Real sustainable change takes time. Use this moment wisely. #ShawShooting
— tchamplin (@tchamplin) October 9, 2014
Update 2:20am. St. Louis police chief Sam Dotson held a press briefing late tonight to provide more details of the gun battle between the officer and the 18-year-old victim.
https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/520096162028994560
#ShawShooting @ChiefSLMPD: Ballistics show suspect fired at least 3 rounds at the officer
— KSDK News (@ksdknews) October 9, 2014
@ChiefSLMPD : ballistics from behind officer confirm suspect was armed; officer was not hurt @FOX2now
— Andy Banker (@andybankertv) October 9, 2014
From @ChiefSLMPD: This is not about painting a picture, it's about getting to the truth. #shawshooting
— Cassidy Moody (@CassFM) October 9, 2014
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