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© REUTERS/ Kenny Bahr
A young black man, who was killed by police in St. Louis this week, died from a gunshot to the back, according to the results of an autopsy.

An autopsy of 18-year-old Mansur Ball-Bey, who was killed by St. Louis policemen on Wednesday, has revealed that he died from a single wound in the back, media reports quoted police officials as saying.

It was earlier reported that St. Louis police officers killed the 18-year-old while conducting a search on his home.

Police claimed that two suspects had been attempting to flee, when the young man pointed a gun at officers and refused to drop it, prompting them to shoot and kill him. The other man remains on the run.

Meanwhile, Police Chief Sam Dotson has insisted that the latest news does not necessarily indicate wrongdoing.

"Just because he was shot in the back doesn't mean he was running away. It could be, and I'm not saying that it doesn't mean that. I just don't know yet, Dotson said.


Comment: In spite of all available evidence and logic, somehow the police chief still thinks that shooting and killing someone with their back turned to police is justified. It's simply nauseating.


He added that an investigation of the details is under way, and that the results of fingerprint and DNA testing on the gun that was allegedly in Ball-Bey's possession are currently pending.

Referring to the two officers at the scene, he said that he does not know exactly where they were standing yet and "I won't know until I get their statements."

Earlier, police said that weapons and drugs were found during the search in and around the home, which is reportedly owned by Ball-Bey's relative.

On Thursday, St. Louis police launched tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters in the wake of the death of the 18-year-old teenager.

Violence has erupted approximately a quarter of a mile from where a demonstration was underway to commemorate the one-year anniversary of another young black man, 25-year-old Kajieme Powell killed by police.