Suspect Dead In St. Louis Officer Involved Shooting (UPDATED)

Suspect Dead In St. Louis Officer Involved Shooting (UPDATED)

According to KTVI, authorities responded just before 1 p.m., Tuesday, outside a market where police say a man walked into a store and showed a knife.

The station reports:

Police were called but the suspect refused to put down the weapon. He tried to attack police and was shot and killed.

UPDATE: Aug. 21 -- St. Louis police released graphic video of the shooting that appears to be at odds with several key elements in their earlier statement.

UPDATE: Aug. 20 -- St. Louis Police identified the suspect in the fatal shooting as 25-year-old Kajieme Powell.

Previously:
St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson told KSDK that the suspect exited the store carrying two energy drinks and was initially confronted by the store owner, who said the man refused to pay for them. Police were called to the scene after the man began pacing and acting erratically, Dotson said.

The officers, who were still in the patrol vehicle, and witnesses say the suspect yelled, "Shoot me now, kill me now." The police officers yelled at the man to drop the knife, but Dotson says he did not respond to verbal commands... [When the suspect] moved between three and four feet from the vehicle holding the knife, both officers fired their weapons, striking him.

Raw video of Dotson's statement to a crowd that gathered near the scene of the shooting has surfaced:

No officers were injured in the incident near Riverview Boulevard and McLaran Avenue.

The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. The shooting occurred about four miles from Ferguson.

Officers are on administrative duty per department policy. The investigation continues.

— Chief Sam Dotson (@ChiefSLMPD) August 19, 2014

Officers gave suspect verbal commands. Officers feared for their safety and both officers fired their weapons. Suspect is deceased.

— Chief Sam Dotson (@ChiefSLMPD) August 19, 2014

Officer involved shooting in the sixth district. Suspect brandished knife at @slmpd officers. No officers injured. Investigation is ongoing.

— Chief Sam Dotson (@ChiefSLMPD) August 19, 2014

This is a developing story.

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