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| Antonio Martin shooting: Mayor says there should be 'no comparison' to Ferguson | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Mayor of Berkeley, Missouri has said that "you couldn't compare" the death of Antonio Martin by police gunfire to that of Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson. | |
| Ted Hoskins highlighted to reporters that Berkeley is 85 per cent black, and that unlike Ferguson its police department is also largely black: "Our experience is different." | |
| He pledged that the city is "going to have a complete investigation" but added: "Truly you don't believe every black man killed is because of a white police officer." | |
| Berkeley Mayor Ted Hoskins His statement follows the release of surveillance footage by St Louis police of the shooting which appears to show Martin raising a weapon in the direction of the officer. | |
| Martin, 18, who did not actually pull the trigger, was shot at three times by the officer but hit only once. | Martin, 18, who did not actually pull the trigger, was shot at three times by the officer but hit only once. |
| Speaking to reporters earlier today, St Louis police chief Jon Belmar said that Martin made "bad choices". | |
| Belmar said: “The officer responded with what he thought was commensurate force at the time. | |
| "This individual could have complied with the officer. It didn't have to end with him approaching him with is arm extended and an 9mm pistol in his hand.” | "This individual could have complied with the officer. It didn't have to end with him approaching him with is arm extended and an 9mm pistol in his hand.” |
| He said it would be "not reasonable" to expect that the officer use a taser. | He said it would be "not reasonable" to expect that the officer use a taser. |
| Belmar said he was asked why a taser was not used by the #Berkeley police officer. He said it's not reasonable. | Belmar said he was asked why a taser was not used by the #Berkeley police officer. He said it's not reasonable. |
| The officer that shot Martin, who was responding a report of robbery, was described as 34 years old, white and having spent 6 years on the force, but his name was not given. | The officer that shot Martin, who was responding a report of robbery, was described as 34 years old, white and having spent 6 years on the force, but his name was not given. |
| He had not switched on his body cam - which was wearing - or his vehicle camera - which was equipped - because, like many of St Louis police officers, he is "not used to" the new technology, according to Belmar. | He had not switched on his body cam - which was wearing - or his vehicle camera - which was equipped - because, like many of St Louis police officers, he is "not used to" the new technology, according to Belmar. |
| Clarification on body cam. #Berkeley police officer was issued body cam, but was not using it. | Clarification on body cam. #Berkeley police officer was issued body cam, but was not using it. |
| Belmar claims, however, that the surveillance footage provided by the Mobil gas station is "really pretty good". | Belmar claims, however, that the surveillance footage provided by the Mobil gas station is "really pretty good". |
| Two witnesses have come forward, but police are still searching for Martin's friend who fled so they can hear his account. | Two witnesses have come forward, but police are still searching for Martin's friend who fled so they can hear his account. |
| Martin was "known to law enforcement" as he had a record of three assault charges since he turned 17, and fire-arms offences. | Martin was "known to law enforcement" as he had a record of three assault charges since he turned 17, and fire-arms offences. |
| As for the protests that followed Martin's death, Belmar reported that one officer had been injured in the 'fireworks' explosion caught on film, and another had been struck by a brick. | As for the protests that followed Martin's death, Belmar reported that one officer had been injured in the 'fireworks' explosion caught on film, and another had been struck by a brick. |
| He said it was "disturbing" that protesters threw rocks at the police, but maintained that no officer used pepper spray. | He said it was "disturbing" that protesters threw rocks at the police, but maintained that no officer used pepper spray. |
| Four arrests were made - all for assaults against police - and the estimated number of protesters was revised to 300 up from 100. | Four arrests were made - all for assaults against police - and the estimated number of protesters was revised to 300 up from 100. |
| The crowd has since dispersed. | The crowd has since dispersed. |
| This is a developing story. Changes will be made as details emerge |