VIDEO: Milwaukee Chief: Suspect Had Gun, Turned Toward Officer Before Shooting
The man who was shot and killed by a Milwaukee police officer on Saturday – an incident which sparked a night of violent protests – is seen on body camera footage with a loaded gun in his hand, officials said at a Sunday news conference.
Sylville K. Smith, 23, was identified Sunday as the subject of a Saturday afternoon traffic stop that turned deadly when Smith allegedly ran from officers and then turned toward one with a gun in his hand, Fox News reports.
Both Smith and the unidentified officer who shot him are black, Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn said.
“The individual did turn toward the officer with a firearm in his hand,” said Flynn, later adding that Smith “was raising up with” the gun.
Flynn said he had viewed the body camera footage, which had not yet been released to the public. The entire incident lasted 20-25 seconds in Flynn’s estimation. While the camera captures the shooting there is no sound of the critical moments because Milwaukee police body cameras do not begin recording audio for 30 seconds, Flynn said.
Police officers could be seen on the footage administering CPR to Smith, who was hit in his chest and arm, Flynn said.
“It certainly appears to me at the time [the officer] made that decision it was a credible decision,” Flynn said of the decision to shoot Smith.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has called for the body camera video of the shooting to be released as soon as possible.
