Body camera footage released on Monday has revealed a St. Louis police officer fatally shooting 17-year-old Emeshyon Wilkins in the back of the head as he fled from the scene. This video directly contradicts an earlier police statement that claimed Wilkins had pointed a gun at officers before the shooting. The footage and surrounding details have sparked renewed concerns about police transparency and accountability in the city.
Attorney Al Watkins, representing Wilkins' family, obtained the video through the discovery process in a federal lawsuit against the St. Louis Police Department. Watkins explained that his office had attempted to secure the footage via a records request but was denied for over a year. He criticized the department for its lack of openness and integrity, emphasizing that resorting to a lawsuit was necessary just to access the video.
Wilkins was shot and killed in June 2024, two weeks after his 17th birthday. According to Watkins, Wilkins had no prior criminal history. He was Black, adding to the deep concerns about racial disparities in police use of force in St. Louis and nationwide.
The incident began when detectives tried to stop an SUV reported stolen. Police described the encounter as a brief pursuit, but Watkins characterized it as a slow-speed chase, estimating the SUV's speed at about 10 miles per hour. The chase ended when Wilkins fled the vehicle on foot, pursued by two officers - one carrying a taser and the other a firearm, according to the lawsuit.
The body camera footage shows the armed officer shouting commands at Wilkins to get on the ground and to drop a gun, while Wilkins continues running away. The officer then fires multiple shots, one of which struck Wilkins in the back of his head, killing him instantly. Reports indicate that Wilkins had a disassembled firearm in his pocket, but it was in pieces and incapable of being fired. At no point in the video is Wilkins seen holding or pointing a weapon at the officers.
Watkins highlighted that there was no apparent threat to the public during the incident. He pointed out the absence of any furtive or suspicious movements by Wilkins in the footage. The attorney's comments underscore concerns that the use of deadly force was unjustified in this case.
In response to the video's release, the St. Louis Police Department acknowledged that information provided by a third party to investigators immediately after the shooting was inconsistent with what actually occurred and what had been initially communicated to the public. The department stated it is now sending members of its body-worn camera unit to crime scenes so footage can be reviewed by investigating commanders before public statements are made. They admitted that an earlier review of the footage in this case would have offered more clarity than the initial accounts.
The shooting of Emeshyon Wilkins has stirred painful memories in St. Louis, a city still grappling with the fallout from the 2014 fatal police shooting of Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson. Brown, an unarmed Black 18-year-old, was shot by a white police officer, sparking months of protests and a national conversation about race and policing. Witnesses had claimed Brown had his hands up in surrender, and though the officer involved was cleared of wrongdoing, the incident left a lasting impact on the community.
Watkins expressed frustration that despite promises of reform following the Brown shooting, similar tragedies continue to occur. He noted that the officer who killed Wilkins has been placed on desk duty with pay and questioned the slow pace of the investigation and accountability process. "The family needs answers, and the only way answers can be given is if there is justice that is open and transparent," he said.
The St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office confirmed it received the police investigative report in October but emphasized that it conducts its own independent review of the evidence and applicable law to determine if criminal charges are warranted. The office stated it is committed to reviewing such cases as quickly as possible while ensuring thorough evaluation of all evidence and legal considerations.
The release of the body camera footage and the contrasting narratives surrounding Wilkins' death have reignited calls for greater transparency and justice in police-involved shootings in St. Louis. Community members and activists continue to demand accountability and reforms to prevent further loss of young Black lives to police violence. The case remains under investigation as the city wrestles with its ongoing challenges related to race, policing, and trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.