Police have taken a 20-year-old “protester” in custody in connection with the shooting of two police officers, authorities just announced.
Police said Williams admitted firing the shots, but said he was shooting at someone else.
Two officers were shot while they were watching over a protest against police brutality. Protesters had gathered outside of police headquarters in the wake of the resignation of the city’s police chief. Suddenly, shots rang out and protesters fled the scene. Around midnight witnesses claimed that a few dozen demonstrators fled following the sound of gunfire shouting: "They hit a cop".
Video of the incident shows a chaotic scene.
One of the officers, a 41-year-old man from St. Louis County Police department, was struck in the shoulder. The other, a 32-year-old from the nearby Webster Groves Police Department, was shot in the face.
However, St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said that it appeared the shooter was "embedded" in the group of demonstrators who were standing across from the officers at the time.
Williams is being held in lieu of $300,000 cash bail.
