No charges for St. Louis officer who killed 18-year-old VonDerrit Myers

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A prosecutor says no charges will be filed against an off-duty white police officer who shot and killed a black 18-year-old in October.

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce’s report, released Monday, says a criminal violation could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in the killing of VonDerrit Myers Jr.

The police officer, who was not named in the report, was patrolling a neighborhood near the Missouri Botanical Gardens as a security officer when he approached Myers.

The report says the officer had reason to suspect Myers was armed and a chase ensued.

Authorities said Myers fired at least three shots at the officer, who returned fire.

Myers’ death fuelled protests, coming two months after the killing of black 18-year-old Michael Brown in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE