ARCH-HAMPTON, Deschire -- An adolescent boy is dead after an officer-involved shooting near Berivian.
The Berivian Emblem Herald first broke the story late Thursday afternoon, reporting an adolescent male had been shot by an officer in the city of Arch-Hampton, directly across the Dalcrumb River from Berivian on the river's eastern shore.
Arch-Hampton Police confirmed 12-year-old Michael Arman was shot by an AHPD officer in the Railyards industrial neighborhood at 4:37 pm western time.
As often the case with fast-moving stories, there was confusion surrounding the details of the incident.
Some media outlets initially reported the victim was an unarmed Black male, but police say Arman was armed with a handgun, and the Anleigh County Coroner confirmed Arman was Hispanic and Caucasian, not Black.
What led to the shooting is still unclear. Arch-Hampton Police Chief Chuck Musgrove told local media an officer was on routine patrol in the Railyards industrial area when he saw a young man smashing empty beer bottles on railroad tracks.
The officer, who has not yet been identified, reportedly stopped his vehicle and walked up to Arman to inquire why he was smashing bottles.
What happened after that is unknown.
The officer in question told his superior commanders Arman drew a gun and attempted to fire at the officer but the gun malfunctioned. The officer then shot the suspect three times in the chest and leg.
Police say two GrassWest rail workers, who were more than 100 yards away at the time, are the only known eye-witnesses.
"This happened in a very industrial area with a lot of machinery and empty warehouses around, and not very many people. So we don't believe there were very many people who saw what happened, but obviously, any witnesses who saw this even transpire, we would very much like to speak with them," said Musgrove.
"Based on what we know now, [the shooting] happened very quickly. There was not much time to think, and there was not much communication between the officer and the suspect before shots were fired," added Musgrove."
Michael Arman was rushed to a local hospital but died upon arrival.
The Anleigh County Sheriff's Department has now taken over the investigation.
Investigation protocol requires a neighboring law enforcement agency to investigate in such situations.
The Anleigh County Coroner's Office will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Late Thursday evening, a group of family and friends created a memorial of flowers, balloons, and stuffed animals at the sight of the shooting in memory of Michael Arman, who was a student at Timothy Watkins Junior High School just a few miles away.
Friday night, a larger candle-light vigil was held near the scene to honor Arman. More than 300 people attended.
Friends of the Arman family are outraged at what they call an act of police brutality.
"Michael was just a kid. A sweet kid. He would never hurt anyone. He had respect for authority. This was police brutality plain and simple," Mike Fain, a friend of the Arman family, told WBER-TV.
Outrage over the shooting death has been pervasive in Arch-Hampton, where 57% of the city's population are minorities.
An eruption of activity exploded on Facebook and Twitter, as hundreds and then thousands of people expressed anger at what many consider an act of excessive force.
Back at the scene, Mike Fain set up a camp of sorts across the street from the shooting site, because he fears the police will alter the crime scene or manipulate evidence to justify the shooting.
"You can't trust these guys. They're liars and manipulators. They will do whatever it takes to defend their own, even when they are completely in the wrong," said Fain.
Police said they would allow Fain and his supporters - which numbered about 50 people yesterday and almost 100 people Friday - to assemble and protest across the street, as long as they remain peaceful, stay within the park boundaries, and do not interfere with traffic or the investigation across the street.
Parks in the city close at dusk, and police emphasized that the crowd should disburse at dusk.
Authorities have been monitoring the situation, which they fear could grow into a mass-protest, similar to the rioting and widespread looting that occurred earlier this week in Ferguson, Missouri in the United States over the shooting death of a Black teenager by a white police officer.
That shooting has rocketed Ferguson, a normally quiet suburb of St. Louis, to the forefront of international headlines in recent days, with Missouri's governor calling in the National Guard to help quell the violence, and Barack Obama's Attorney General Eric Holder visiting to reassure a thorough and fair investigation.
So far, there has been no looting or rioting at the scene of Michael Arman's death. But local law enforcement are keeping an eye on the situation as it develops.
"We want people to be able to exercise their right to freedom of speech and protest. They have that right, it's guaranteed in the Constitution. But we also want the investigators to have easy and safe access to the crime scene, so they can do their very crucial work in a safe environment without interruption, interference or threats of violence," said Anleigh County Sheriff Paul Wymer.
Deschire Gov. Jan Beamer was also briefed on the shooting Thursday evening. A spokesman from her office told the Emblem Herald the governor is receiving regular updates on the unfolding situation, and may ask the Deschire State Police Coroner's Office to conduct a second autopsy.
"It's always sad anytime there is an officer-involved shooting. It's sad for the victim, it's sad for the officer involved, and it's sad for friends and family and the community. It's very stressful, a very emotional situation, and we want feelings to be respected but we also want the integrity of the investigation upheld, and what we absolutely do not want is violence," Zach Kramer, spokesman for Gov. Beamer's office, said in an email.
The Berivian Emblem Herald first broke the story late Thursday afternoon, reporting an adolescent male had been shot by an officer in the city of Arch-Hampton, directly across the Dalcrumb River from Berivian on the river's eastern shore.
Arch-Hampton Police confirmed 12-year-old Michael Arman was shot by an AHPD officer in the Railyards industrial neighborhood at 4:37 pm western time.
As often the case with fast-moving stories, there was confusion surrounding the details of the incident.
Some media outlets initially reported the victim was an unarmed Black male, but police say Arman was armed with a handgun, and the Anleigh County Coroner confirmed Arman was Hispanic and Caucasian, not Black.
What led to the shooting is still unclear. Arch-Hampton Police Chief Chuck Musgrove told local media an officer was on routine patrol in the Railyards industrial area when he saw a young man smashing empty beer bottles on railroad tracks.
The officer, who has not yet been identified, reportedly stopped his vehicle and walked up to Arman to inquire why he was smashing bottles.
What happened after that is unknown.
The officer in question told his superior commanders Arman drew a gun and attempted to fire at the officer but the gun malfunctioned. The officer then shot the suspect three times in the chest and leg.
Police say two GrassWest rail workers, who were more than 100 yards away at the time, are the only known eye-witnesses.
"This happened in a very industrial area with a lot of machinery and empty warehouses around, and not very many people. So we don't believe there were very many people who saw what happened, but obviously, any witnesses who saw this even transpire, we would very much like to speak with them," said Musgrove.
"Based on what we know now, [the shooting] happened very quickly. There was not much time to think, and there was not much communication between the officer and the suspect before shots were fired," added Musgrove."
Michael Arman was rushed to a local hospital but died upon arrival.
The Anleigh County Sheriff's Department has now taken over the investigation.
Investigation protocol requires a neighboring law enforcement agency to investigate in such situations.
The Anleigh County Coroner's Office will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Late Thursday evening, a group of family and friends created a memorial of flowers, balloons, and stuffed animals at the sight of the shooting in memory of Michael Arman, who was a student at Timothy Watkins Junior High School just a few miles away.
Friday night, a larger candle-light vigil was held near the scene to honor Arman. More than 300 people attended.
Friends of the Arman family are outraged at what they call an act of police brutality.
"Michael was just a kid. A sweet kid. He would never hurt anyone. He had respect for authority. This was police brutality plain and simple," Mike Fain, a friend of the Arman family, told WBER-TV.
Outrage over the shooting death has been pervasive in Arch-Hampton, where 57% of the city's population are minorities.
An eruption of activity exploded on Facebook and Twitter, as hundreds and then thousands of people expressed anger at what many consider an act of excessive force.
Back at the scene, Mike Fain set up a camp of sorts across the street from the shooting site, because he fears the police will alter the crime scene or manipulate evidence to justify the shooting.
"You can't trust these guys. They're liars and manipulators. They will do whatever it takes to defend their own, even when they are completely in the wrong," said Fain.
Police said they would allow Fain and his supporters - which numbered about 50 people yesterday and almost 100 people Friday - to assemble and protest across the street, as long as they remain peaceful, stay within the park boundaries, and do not interfere with traffic or the investigation across the street.
Parks in the city close at dusk, and police emphasized that the crowd should disburse at dusk.
Authorities have been monitoring the situation, which they fear could grow into a mass-protest, similar to the rioting and widespread looting that occurred earlier this week in Ferguson, Missouri in the United States over the shooting death of a Black teenager by a white police officer.
That shooting has rocketed Ferguson, a normally quiet suburb of St. Louis, to the forefront of international headlines in recent days, with Missouri's governor calling in the National Guard to help quell the violence, and Barack Obama's Attorney General Eric Holder visiting to reassure a thorough and fair investigation.
So far, there has been no looting or rioting at the scene of Michael Arman's death. But local law enforcement are keeping an eye on the situation as it develops.
"We want people to be able to exercise their right to freedom of speech and protest. They have that right, it's guaranteed in the Constitution. But we also want the investigators to have easy and safe access to the crime scene, so they can do their very crucial work in a safe environment without interruption, interference or threats of violence," said Anleigh County Sheriff Paul Wymer.
Deschire Gov. Jan Beamer was also briefed on the shooting Thursday evening. A spokesman from her office told the Emblem Herald the governor is receiving regular updates on the unfolding situation, and may ask the Deschire State Police Coroner's Office to conduct a second autopsy.
"It's always sad anytime there is an officer-involved shooting. It's sad for the victim, it's sad for the officer involved, and it's sad for friends and family and the community. It's very stressful, a very emotional situation, and we want feelings to be respected but we also want the integrity of the investigation upheld, and what we absolutely do not want is violence," Zach Kramer, spokesman for Gov. Beamer's office, said in an email.
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