The Final Call

Girlfriend says alleged Ferguson shooter didn’t have gun

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FERGUSON, Mo. - The girlfriend and family of Tyrone Harris Jr. insists that he was not armed and was running away from gunfire when he was shot and critically wounded by police.

Police stand near a man in a parking lot after gunfire during a protest on the anniversary of the death of Michael Brown, Aug. 9, in Ferguson, Mo. Police said the man opened fire on police and was struck when the officers returned fire.

A state of emergency was imposed Aug. 10 as the 18-year-old fought for his life at Final Call press time. According to the St. Louis County Police Dept. the young man was involved in a gunfight with others on West Florissant Avenue, fled his enemies but turned his weapon on plainclothes officers responding to the gunplay. Authorities said a stolen 9mm gun was found at the scene.

“In light of last night’s violence and unrest in the City of Ferguson, and the potential for harm to persons and property, I am exercising my authority as county executive to issue a state of emergency, effective immediately,” Mr. Stenger announced referring to 50-60 gunshots that rang out the early morning of Aug. 10. St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said shots were fired at an unmarked police vehicle with bullets piercing a window and the front of the vehicle.

Mr. Harris, Jr., is accused of firing those shots.

He faces 10 felony charges, five counts of armed criminal action, four counts of first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer and a firearms charge. He was in critical condition after surgery and family members complained they were given no information and were not given a chance to see him.

The shots rang out in the wee hours of Aug. 10 as protestors confronted a line of officers dressed in riot gear across Ferguson Avenue and West Florissant Avenue as officers essentially had protestors surrounded.

Malik Shabazz of Black Lawyers for Justice, who was back in town to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the rebellion and killing of Mike Brown, Jr., saw a confrontation between two groups and then heard broken glass and gunshots. It looked like a dispute as a teenager broke into a building and others tried to take the stolen items, he said.

As Mr. Shabazz ducked for cover, he couldn’t tell who was doing the shooting, but heard something striking the pavement.

Panic set in as shots were fired. People ran. Others ducked behind cars or any available barrier. Police said shots were also fired on a lot in front of a market. They ordered people away from their lines.

“We just got there when it was raining so we sat in the car and waited for it to stop. Then the police start coming towards my car so we moved down away from them. But this young 15-year-old broke in the Better Family Life office to steal a flat screen TV and a laptop. When these five guys tried to rob him Tyrone jumped in to protect the little guy,” said Qunesha Coley-Wilkes, his girlfriend. Tyrone knew the boy, she added.

“But the guy ran and dropped his gun, the other guys start shooting at Tyrone so he picked the gun up and fired back at them—but ran out of shells and dropped the gun. When he tried to get away from them, he ran across the streets towards the police. They just shot him down and put handcuffs on him when he couldn’t do anything, just laid there bleeding,” she said.

The 18-year-old was still shaken. The couple had decided to go out to make the anniversary of the killing of Mike Brown, Jr.

The young man’s father insisted his son was not armed. He also told the media that Mike Brown, Jr., and his son were friends. Both attended Normandy High School. Media outlets reported Tyrone had a criminal history and was out on bond. A former teacher called him an intelligent boy who fell in with the wrong crowd and was more of a follower. She doesn’t believe Tyrone would pull a gun and point it at police. She did admit Tyrone had an incident with a gun years ago, injuring himself.

“Every time one of our children gets shot or killed by the police. They always dig into their past to try and assassinate their character and just like they tried to do with Mike Brown Jr., Antonio Martin and Vonderrit Myers Jr. and others, remember all of us have a past that’s not so beautiful and it should not cancel a person’s future. Judge not lest you be judged,” said Antwan Pope, who grew up with Tyrone.