Mansur Ball-Bey, 18, was was shot and killed by St. Louis police officers Wednesday, reportedly died from a single gunshot wound to the back, according to an autopsy, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson urged patience to those who may conclude that the bullet's location disproves the initial police report that the teen had turned and aimed a gun at officers when he was shot.
"Just because he was shot in the back doesn't mean he was running away," Dotson told the Post-Dispatch. "It could be, and I'm not saying that it doesn't mean that. I just don't know yet. What I do know is that two officers were involved and fired shots, but I don't know exactly where they were standing yet, and I won't know until I get their statements."
According to the Post-Dispatch, two officers fired a total of four shots; one officer fired three times and the second officer fired once.
Details of the shooting are still unclear, but police note that they were at the home where Ball-Rey was—reportedly owned by his cousin—to serve a search warrant. According to authorities, Ball-Bey and another person fled the home, causing officers to chase them.
After the shooting, some 150 protesters converged on the scene; they were confronted by police in full riot gear. Officers used tear gas to disperse the crowd, and nine demonstrators were arrested.
Jermaine Wooten, an attorney for Ball-Bey's family, told the Post-Dispatch that according to witnesses and family members he has spoken with, Ball-Bey was not armed and was running away when he was shot in the back.
"I told them, 'If you want me to represent you, don't lie to me. Did he have a gun?' And they all said, 'No,' " Wooten told the newspaper.
Dotson noted that the investigation is ongoing and added, "It's important to get all the facts to present to the circuit attorney's office, and if she sees a criminal violation, she will prosecute," he said. "That's why we formed the Force Investigation Unit, to do the best-possible investigation and present the facts in their totality."
Read more at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.