Body camera footage released on Monday reveals critical details surrounding the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Emeshyon Wilkins by a police officer in St. Louis. The footage contradicts an earlier account provided by the police, which claimed that Wilkins pointed a gun at the officers as he fled from a stolen vehicle.
### Context of the Incident
On June 15, 2024, officers attempted to apprehend an SUV reported as stolen. According to police statements, a slow-speed pursuit ensued, with the vehicle traveling at approximately 10 miles per hour. Wilkins eventually exited the vehicle and fled on foot, with two officers in pursuit. One officer was armed with a taser, while the other was equipped with a firearm, as indicated in the legal complaint filed on Wilkins’ behalf.
In the released video, the officer with the firearm commands Wilkins to get on the ground and instructs him to drop a weapon. The footage captures the moment the officer fires his weapon, striking Wilkins in the back of the head. The lawsuit states that the police recovered a firearm from Wilkins’ pocket, but it was disassembled and rendered incapable of being fired at the time of the incident.
### Legal Actions and Concerns
Al Watkins, the attorney representing Wilkins’ family, obtained the video as part of the discovery process in a federal lawsuit against the St. Louis Police Department. He stated that his attempts to secure the footage through public records requests were met with resistance for over a year, leading to the necessity of filing a lawsuit to gain access. “That’s not transparent. That’s not integrity. Indeed, it’s irresponsible,” Watkins commented on the delay.
Watkins emphasized that the video does not display Wilkins—who was Black and had no prior criminal history—holding or aiming a weapon at the officers. He asserted that the footage shows there was no immediate threat to the public. “There were no furtive movements,” he said, highlighting the lack of evidence supporting the initial police narrative.
### Police Department’s Acknowledgment
In response to the video’s release, the St. Louis Police Department acknowledged discrepancies in the information initially provided to the public. The department stated that information received from third parties shortly after the incident was inconsistent with the actual events, prompting a review process for body-worn camera footage at future incidents. “An earlier review of body-worn camera footage would have provided greater clarity than what was available in the initial moments following the incident,” the department’s statement noted.
### Ongoing Investigation and Community Reaction
The St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office is currently reviewing the police report, which was submitted in October 2024, to assess possible criminal liability. The office asserts its commitment to an expedient review while ensuring thorough analysis of the evidence.
Watkins expressed frustration with the process, indicating that the officer involved has been placed on paid administrative duty instead of facing immediate consequences. He emphasized the need for swift and transparent justice for Wilkins’ family. “The family needs answers, and the only way answers can be given is if there is justice that is open and transparent,” he stated.
This incident occurs against the backdrop of heightened scrutiny of police conduct in the St. Louis area, particularly in light of the 2014 shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson. The response to that incident sparked nationwide protests and calls for reform, with many community members expressing doubt that significant changes have been made since then.
### Conclusion
As the investigation into Emeshyon Wilkins’ death continues, the release of body camera footage adds another layer to the ongoing conversation about police accountability and transparency. The outcome of the review by the Circuit Attorney’s Office could have significant implications for the relationship between law enforcement and the community and may influence broader discussions surrounding policing practices in St. Louis and beyond.
Source: Original Reporting
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