About 70 demonstrators shut down a Missouri interstate highway on Christmas eve to protest the killing of another black teen at the hands of a white police officer, as officials urge that this was not another Ferguson.
As midnight mass approached in Berkley, Missouri, a group of protesters also gathered at a local church to hold a candlelight vigil for Antonio Martin, an 18-year-old boy who was shot and killed by a police officer on Tuesday. Police in riot gear stood by the scene.
The demonstrators then made their way to the Mobil gas station where Martin was shot. At least one person was arrested at the gas station, according to NBC News affiliate station KSDK.
Related: Miles from Ferguson, another black teen killed by police
The St. Louis County Police confirmed the death Wednesday, saying the teen had pulled a gun on an officer and that “fearing for his life” he had “fired several shots.” According to police, a handgun was recovered at the scene.
The shooting death brought up memories of Michael Brown, who was shot and killed only a few miles away, reigniting the months-long clash between police officers and the communities they serve. African-American teen Martin, like Brown, was shot and killed by a white police officer.
Mayor Theodore Hoskins spoke Wednesday morning to emphasize that this was not another Ferguson.
“We’re different than the city of Ferguson,” he said in a press conference, noting that the mayor, city manager, and police chief are all black. ”At this point, it appears – let me say this strongly – it appears that the person, this deceased, was pointing a gun which was found at the scene.”









