A white policeman shot and killed a black teenager in St Louis on Wednesday, officials revealed, triggering a night of protests.
The deceased has been identified as 18-year-old Vonderrick Myers.
St Louis is located just eight miles from Ferguson, where Michael Brown - another black teen - was shot down by a white police officer two months ago. Brown's death had triggered weeks of violent protests, prompting the Governor to summon the National Guard at one point.
According to the police version of the shootout, the 18-year-old was armed and fired three shots, while he was being chased by the officer. The officer fired 17 shots at the teenager, the police noted. They also added that a 9mm gun was recovered from the scene.
The dead teen was reportedly among the three people who fled after being approached by the officer.
However, Teyonna Myers, who claims to be the cousin of the suspect, told the St Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper that Myers was unarmed when he was killed.
"He had a sandwich in his hand, and they thought it was a gun. It's like Michael Brown all over again," she stated.
Following the shootout, a crowd of over 200 people took to the streets, chanting "hands up, don't shoot", in reference to the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in August.
According to CBS St. Louis affiliate KMOV-TV, the scene of the shootout near the Missouri Botanical Garden turned into a protest venue, where family members of the victim were seen crying, while others at the scene yelled threats at police officers.
The protestors were on the streets well past 2am EDT.
