Black cop is shot off duty by a ‘fearful’ white officer

AN off-duty black police officer was shot by a white colleague alleged to have “automatically feared” him.

The white officer was one of three chasing gunmen in a stolen car when the black officer came out of his nearby home to help, carrying his police-issue gun.

He was shot in the arm and taken to hospital in St Louis, Missouri, on Wednesday but has since been discharged.

Police have said it was a “friendly fire incident” but the injured officer’s lawyer said he was “automatically feared” as a black man.

Acting police chief Lawrence O’Toole said two of the officers recognised their 38-year-old colleague after ordering him to the ground. When they told him to stand up and walk towards them the third officer, 36, allegedly misinterpreted the scene.

Mr O’Toole said: “A responding officer just arriving observed this and, fearing for his safety and apparently not recognising the off-duty officer, discharged a shot.”

Two of the suspects, both black 17-year-olds, were arrested at the scene.

CHASE The shooting scene