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Ferguson Police Shooter Turns Out To Be A Protester

Scott Greer Contributor
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St. Louis County officials announced Sunday that they had arrested a 20-year-old Missouri man in connection with the Thursday morning shooting of two local police officers.

The man arrested, Jeffrey Williams, had attended several demonstrations against police in Ferguson prior to the shooting, but claimed he did not intentionally target the officers he shot. The two officers — who were released from medical care later Thursday — were wounded during a protest outside the Ferguson Police Department following the resignation of the town’s embattled police chief.

According to St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch, Williams says he accidentally hit the policemen in a dispute with another individual. McCulloch told reporters at a Sunday afternoon press conference that the suspect’s claim is being investigated.

In contrast to speculation from activists and politicians that the shooter was a white supremacist unconnected to the local community, Williams is black and lives in a town just north of Ferguson. (RELATED: Black Activist: White Militia Group May Be Responsible For Shooting Ferguson Cops)

Williams already had a warrant out for his arrest prior to his capture for failing to appear before his parole officer over the last seven months. He was previously charged with receiving stolen property and is now being held on a $300,000 bond.

Tags : ferguson
Scott Greer