The Latest on the murder trial of a white former police officer who fatally shot a black man in St. Louis (all times local):
ST. LOUIS (AP) – The Latest on the murder trial of a white former police officer who fatally shot a black man in St. Louis (all times local):
2:50 p.m.
A Democratic state lawmaker from St. Louis has joined protesters after a white police officer was acquitted in the death of a black man.
Peter Merideth says from what he’s seen, “the protesters have been largely absolutely nonviolent.”
The protests came after a judge announced Friday that white former St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley was not guilty of first-degree murder in the 2011 death of 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith.
Merideth is white. He said, “It’s important for there to be white leaders standing here, not for our voices to be heard, but just to show support for the voices that need to be heard.”
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2:40 p.m.
Protesters say law enforcement officials have used pepper spray as the two sides face off in downtown St. Louis.
Hundreds of protesters are marching through city streets after a judge announced Friday that white former St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley was not guilty of first-degree murder in the 2011 death of 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith, a black suspect.
At one point, a group of the protesters stood in front of a city bus filled with officers in riot gear, blocking it from moving forward. The bus backed up and protesters again tried to stop it, with a few throwing water bottles. The bus moved less than a block before police in riot gear began pushing back the crowd.
As protesters resisted, two women told The Associated Press that police used pepper spray. Both women’s faces had been doused with milk, which is used to counter the effects of pepper spray.
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2:30 p.m.
The head of the NAACP St. Louis is asking President Donald Trump and the U. S. Justice Department to immediately review the acquittal of a white St. Louis police officer in the shooting death of a black man.
St. Louis Public Radio reports that in a letter sent Friday, St. Louis NAACP president Adolphus Pruitt said the Justice Department needed to give immediate attention to the case “to get to the truth of what happened and to ensure that justice has been served.”
A judge on Friday found Jason Stockley not guilty of first-degree murder in the 2011 death of 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith.
Pruitt says the community has lost faith in local authorities to fairly handle such cases. He cited the remarks from Albert Watkins, the attorney for Smith’s fiancee. Watkins said ruling was “appallingly contrary” to evidence in the case.
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1:40 p.m.
Dozens of protesters are facing off with police in riot gear in downtown St. Louis after blocking a bus filled with officers.
The protests come after a judge announced Friday that Jason Stockley was not guilty of first-degree murder in the 2011 death of 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith.
Hundreds of protesters are marching through city streets.
A smaller group stood in front of a city bus filled with officers in riot gear, blocking it from moving forward. The bus backed up and protesters again tried to stop it, with a few throwing water bottles. The bus moved less than a block before police in riot gear began pushing back the crowd.
Stockley shot 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith five times after a high-speed chase. Prosecutors alleged Stockley planted a gun in Smith’s car after he shot him.
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1:30 p.m.
One man has been arrested during protests in St. Louis that followed the acquittal of a former white police officer who killed a black suspect.
St. Louis police say a man was arrested Friday for damaging a police vehicle as protesters marched down a St. Louis street. The suspect’s name has not been released.
A judge announced Friday that Jason Stockley was not guilty of first-degree murder in the 2011 death of 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith. The verdict led to immediate protests in the streets of downtown St. Louis.
Hundreds of protesters blocked streets, marched and tried unsuccessfully to walk onto Interstate 64, where they were blocked from entering the highway by police.
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11:45 a.m.
Several businesses and schools in or near downtown St. Louis closed early after a judge’s verdict acquitting a white police officer in the death of black motorist was announced.
Wells Fargo Advisors, brokerage and investment firm Stifel and Nestle Purina PetCare all sent thousands of employees home Friday after a judge acquitted former officer Jason Stockley in the death of 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith.
Activists were gathering downtown to protest the verdict and officials were concerned about the potential for unrest.
Several schools also closed early and postponed events scheduled for Friday.
And an Alzheimer’s Walk scheduled for Saturday in downtown St. Louis was postponed.
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11:30 a.m.
The attorney for the family of the black man shot and killed by a white St. Louis police officer says they disagree with a judge’s ruling that the state didn’t meet its burden of proof for a finding that the officer was guilty of murder.
KMOV reports that Al Watkins spoke to reporters less than an hour after the judge’s Friday morning ruling that 36-year-old Jason Stockley was not guilty in the 2011 death of 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith.
Watkins says he found the ruling appalling and contrary to the evidence presented.
Watkins and Smith’s fiance, Christina Wilson, on Thursday appealed for calm and non-violent protest no matter what verdict was issued.
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11:10 a.m.
U. S. Rep. William Lacy Clay of Missouri says he’s outraged by a judge’s verdict acquitting a white St. Louis police officer in the shooting death of a black man.
Clay is a Democrat who represents the St. Louis area. He said in a statement Friday that former officer Jason Stockley violated several police department regulations and showed a “total disregard” for Anthony Lamar Smith. He says justice has been “cruelly denied” for Smith, his family and the community.
Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill and Republican Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri both issued statements Friday expressing hope that people will come together to avoid the divisions that occurred after a white police officer killed 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson in 2014.
And Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens acknowledged the verdict causes pain for many people but asked those who choose to protest the verdict to do so peacefully.
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10:45 a.m.
A St. Louis activist says he’s disappointed but not surprised by the acquittal of a white former police officer in the shooting death of a black man.
A judge on Friday found 36-year-old Jason Stockley not guilty in the 2011 death of 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith. Several hundred protesters were marching in the streets of downtown St. Louis within hours of the verdict being released.
Among the protesters was the Rev. Clinton Stancil, who is black. He’s a pastor at Wayman AME Church in St. Louis. He says, “Cops again are able to shoot our people down with impunity.”
Stockley shot 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith five times after a high-speed chase. Prosecutors alleged Stockley planted a gun in Smith’s car after he shot him.
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10:30 a.m.
About 100 people have gathered in downtown St. Louis to protest the acquittal of a white former police officer in the shooting death of a black man.
A judge on Friday found 36-year-old Jason Stockley not guilty in the 2011 death of 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith. Protesters began gathering near the courthouse where the case was heard and were marching in the streets. Police have blocked off some streets. At one point, protesters headed toward an interstate ramp, but police blocked them from getting on.
St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson says she hopes city residents will come together despite their differences over the acquittal.
Stockley shot 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith five times after a high-speed chase.
