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The man shot by a Milwaukee police officer on Saturday, triggering destructive riots in the city overnight that prompted authorities to activate the national guard, had a gun in his hand as he was killed, the city's mayor said on Sunday.
Sylville Smith's death sparked protests, which on Saturday night led to the burning of six businesses, the injury of four police officers, and the arrest of 17 people.
Police body camera footage captured the brief, but deadly interaction between the 23-year-old and an officer, who are both black, officials said in a press conference.
Smith.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said Sunday he had seen a still photo from the footage which he said "demonstrates, without question, that [Smith] had a gun in his hand."
Barrett and Police Chief Edward Flynn told reporters they hope the video will be released to answer some of the questions of community members.
The video is in the custody of the state's Division of Criminal Investigation, which is conducting an independent inquiry into whether the officer acted appropriately.
"I do think it’s in everyone’s best interest to be as transparent as quickly as possible," Barrett said. "I will do everything I can to make sure this is released."
Flynn added that the officer, who has not been identified, must be more fully interviewed before the video is released.
"We have to weigh the public’s benefit. We have to weigh the rights of the officer involved," Flynn said. "We have to weigh the concerns [state investigators have] about having an investigation that’s untainted."
Darren Hauck / Getty Images
Police said the officer pulled Smith over on Saturday afternoon after noting suspicious behavior. The officer was getting out of the car and turned on the body camera as Smith pulled over, then allegedly ran from the car.
The officer followed for a few dozen feet, Flynn said, then confronted Smith in a fenced yard bordered by two houses. Smith had a gun in his hand and turned toward the officer, Flynn said.
The officer fired his gun, striking Smith twice, the chief said. It appeared Smith was hit in his chest and arm, police said, but autopsy results are yet to be released. Members of the community have questioned whether Smith was actually struck in the back.
The body camera video does not make it clear exactly when the officer opened fire because it does not have audio, due to the camera's audio not kicking in until around 30 seconds of use, Flynn said.
"It doesn’t necessarily tell me everything that will come out in a thorough investigation," Flynn said.
Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke told reporters on Sunday afternoon that Smith had been arrested 13 times previously.
Clarke said incidents like the police shootings can act as "an igniter to an already festering situation" in troubled communities, but turned his attention to Smith, who he said had a history of arrests, many of which did not result in prosecution.
Some of those arrests were for drug and robbery offenses, resulting in what he called "light sanctions."
"That means he's been given his chance," Clarke said. "He does not walk the straight and narrow. It's why we continue to see the behavior repeated."
Smith's father, Patrick Smith, tearfully told reporters earlier in the day that he wished he had been a better role model.
His mother, Mildred Haynes, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that while Smith had been arrested before, he had no felony record. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his 2-year-old son.
"I am lost," Haynes told the Journal Sentinel.
Gretchen Ehlke / AP
Mayor Barrett praised community members and other volunteers who on Sunday gathered to clean up the broken glass and other damage from the previous night's events.
He called on parents to keep their children away from the area on Sunday to prevent a repeat of Saturday's violent gathering.
"Let’s calm things down," he said. "We are going to have an opportunity through the investigation to find out what happened."
On Saturday, fires destroyed a gas station, auto parts store, and liquor store as well as heavily damaging a beauty shop, bank branch, and another liquor store.
Four police officers were struck by concrete or broken glass, one of whom sustained a concussion and required stitches, Barrett said. By Sunday, they had all been released from the hospital.
A 16-year-old girl was also treated in a hospital for gunshot wounds after she was struck by a stray bullet, Flynn said.
The city's gunshot detection system was also activated 48 times throughout the night, officials said. Some of those activations included barrages of six to 10 gunshots.
Gretchen Ehlke / AP
Seven police cars were damaged, including one that was set on fire. Others were struck by gunfire or bricks. Eight men, three women, and two minors were arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct; three men and a minor were arrested on suspicion of burglary.
No gunshots were fired by police, and officers also did not use any other forms of force, officials said.
"I’m very proud of the way our police officers and firefighters responded under tremendous, tremendous pressure," Barrett said. "What you saw last night was tremendous restraint by our police officers."
The National Guard has been activated, but no troops will be deployed unless requested by Milwaukee police. Barrett added that he would consider a curfew if necessary.
"This is still a very volatile situation, I believe," he said. "I don’t know what’s going to happen tonight."
LINK: National Guard Activated In Milwaukee After Night Of Violence Following Police Shooting
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