ST. LOUIS – A prosecutor has determined that a St. Louis police officer acted in self-defense in the January fatal shooting of a robbery suspect.
Sgt. Michael Pratt fatally shot 52-year-old Crayton West on Jan. 17 following the robbery of a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant.
St. Louis Circuit County Attorney Jennifer Joyce released two surveillance videos Monday as she announced her decision. One appears to show West pointing a gun at the clerk before reaching into the cash register and grabbing money. The other shows him coming face-to-face with an officer. He appears to reach into his waistband, pull out a gun and raise it before being shot.
West was black; Pratt is white.
Joyce says it's clear based on the video and witness statements that the officer was protecting himself and others.
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