Protests erupt in Chicago after black man fatally shot by police
Protests erupt in Chicago after black man fatally shot by police
Harith Augustus, known as Snoop the barber, was killed on Saturday, prompting clashes between police and protesters.
Protesters in Chicago are demanding answers after the fatal shooting of a black man by police prompted violent confrontations in the Illinois city.
"The whole damn system is guilty as hell," dozens chanted on Saturday just hours after police shot and killed 37-year-old Harith Augustus in the South Shore neighbourhood of Chicago.
Augustus is known in the community as Snoop the barber, local media reported.
The city's police patrol chief Fred Waller told reporters late on Saturday that Augustus was shot after police officers on foot tried to question him because "the bulge around his waistband" suggested he was armed. Augustus became combative and eventually broke free from the officers, Waller said.
"They thought he appeared to be reaching for a weapon, which he did have a weapon on him, and the officers tragically shot him," Waller told reporters, adding that police recovered a semi-automatic weapon.
Augustus was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Almost immediately after the shooting, a crowd of onlookers and activists descended on the scene. Video circulating on social media shows tense confrontations between police and protesters.
Local journalist Nader Issa, who reports for the Chicago Sun-Times, wrote on Twitter that at one point the situation "severely escalated when Chicago Police officers moved their line forward".
He added: "Officers hit multiple protesters with batons, and protesters punched officers back."
The situation just severely escalated when Chicago Police officers moved their line forward. An argument started and officers hit protesters with batons, and protesters returned punches. I haven't seen a police shooting scene this tense since the Laquon McDonald video release.
Issa also said that he was shoved to the ground by police who "smacked" his phone out of his hand.
I had my press badge held up in one hand and my phone in the other while I was saying "I'm a reporter." Two Chicago Police officers repeatedly pushed me, then smacked my phone out of my hand and threw me back. I lost my balance but can't remember if I hit the ground or not.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Issa said the tension was so high immediately after the shooting that "it was clear there was going to be a confrontation between Chicago Police and protesters at some point".
Mistrust
Chief Waller told reporters that the crowd became combative, throwing bottles and jumping on top of a squad car.
Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi later tweeted that police had cleared the scene and four demonstrators had been arrested.
More protests are scheduled for Sunday evening.
Online, many expressed anger over the shooting and the actions of the police.
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