ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- The unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, simmered Tuesday as protesters focused on a new incident. An African-American man was shot and killed by two St. Louis police officers after he apparently advanced on them with a knife.
"I was just at home when I saw this on TV. My first thought was 'why' and my second thought was, 'I have to get down there," Felicia King, 35, who lives nearby, told International Business Times. "I need to be with my people and I have to see for myself."
Michael Brown supporters gathered at the scene of the St. Louis man's death and chanted, “Hands up! Don’t shoot,” a refrain used by protesters since the unarmed teen was shot and killed by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson Aug. 9. By early evening, about 100 people were at the scene, holding up signs as they chanted.
"This is not good, that's all I can say," Trina Williams, 39, who lives around the corner, told IBT. "We still haven't resolved this other incident yet," she said. "This is not good at all."
Tuesday’s shooting happened a few miles from Ferguson, the St. Louis suburb where Brown was killed. Tuesday's victim has yet to be identified, but Police Chief Sam Dotson told reporters the suspect took energy drinks and a package of pastries from a nearby convenience store, NBC News reported. The victim, 23, was “acting erratically, walking back and forth, up and down the street.”
The subsequent encounter led to the death of an armed person whose name the police have not yet released. #fgs
The officers repeatedly ordered the man to put down the knife. Even when they drew their weapons he continued to flash the weapon at them, the chief said. The man allegedly told police: “Shoot me now. Kill me now.”
When he came within feet of the officers, they fired. “One of the witnesses described it as a suicide by cop,” Dotson said.
But "this here is just ridiculous. They need to change the rules," Reggie Dotson, 38, who has been at the Ferguson demonstrations daily, told IBT. "I mean is this standard practice? What about Tasers?"
A crowd gathered after a man, 23, was shot and killed by police near Ferguson. Authorities said he was waving a knife and said "kill me now." Kathleen CaulderwoodA crowd of about 100 people gathered after a man, 23, was shot and killed by police near Ferguson. Authorities said he was waving a knife and said "kill me now." Kathleen CaulderwoodPeople held signs after a man, 23, was shot and killed by police near Ferguson. Authorities said he was waving a knife and said "kill me now." Kathleen CaulderwoodA crowd held signs after a man, 23, was shot and killed by police near Ferguson. Authorities said he was waving a knife and said "kill me now." Kathleen CaulderwoodAnonymous has called for a "National Day of Rage" Thursday in 37 cities. ReutersA demonstrator holds a placard on West Florissant Avenue in Ferguson, Missouri, Monday, Aug. 18, 2014. Police fired tear gas in another night of unrest in a Missouri town where a white police officer shot and killed an unarmed black teenager, just hours after President Barack Obama called for calm.Michael B. Thomas/AFP/Getty ImagesDemonstrators holds their signs and hands in the air as they protest against the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri August 18, 2014. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon lifted the curfew for the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson on Monday and began deploying National Guard troops to help quell days of rioting and protests spurred by the fatal shooting of the black unarmed teenager by a white policeman. REUTERS/Joshua LottA demonstrator holds a sign during a protest against the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri August 18, 2014. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon lifted the curfew for the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson on Monday and began deploying National Guard troops to help quell days of rioting and protests spurred by the fatal shooting of the black unarmed teenager by a white policeman. REUTERS/Joshua Lott