ST. LOUIS — Two months after a Ferguson officer killed Michael Brown, setting off intense national debate about law enforcement treatment of minorities, the shooting death of another black 18-year-old by police in nearby St. Louis has reignited anger.
Police say Vonderrit D. Myers was shot Wednesday after he opened fire on a white, off-duty officer, but Myers’ parents say he was unarmed. Some activists and lawmakers say Myers was targeted because he was black and are asking the Justice Department to investigate his shooting.
“This here was racial profiling turned deadly,” said state Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, a St. Louis Democrat.
The shooting happened as activists and other protesters prepared for four days of rallies, marches and protests over the Brown shooting. Organizers say the events, which start Friday and include a march Saturday in downtown St. Louis, have taken on added urgency.
St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson said the officer spotted Myers and two other males about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday while working a security job. All three ran, and the officer chased them, first in his car and then on foot. During the chase, the officer got into a physical altercation with Myers, who fired at the officer with a stolen 9mm gun, the chief said. The officer, who wasn’t hurt, shot back and fatally struck Myers.
Syreeta Myers said her son was holding a sandwich, not a gun. “Police lie. They lied about Michael Brown, too,” she said Thursday.
