(Source: Final Call.com)
ST. LOUIS – “Like father like son” read the front of a black sweat shirt worn by a hurt father pained by the loss of his only son. Vonderrit Myers, Sr. and his wife Syreeta marched with over 1,200 protesters and supporters early Monday morning during the recent Weekend of Resistance in St. Louis, Mo., and nearby Ferguson, Mo. convened to protest police brutality and demand an end to the police murder of Black youth.
Days earlier, the couple’s 18-year-old son was shot to death by an off-duty White police officer moonlighting as a private armed security guard while still in his St. Louis Police Dept. uniform. Vonderrit Myers Jr. and friends went to a neighborhood store for a sub sandwich Oct. 8 and the group was approached by the officer, according to police officials. Police Chief Sam Dotson said the officer was suspicious and the Black youth ran. The officer, whose identity remains secret, allegedly chased the young men. Then said Chief Dotson, the group came back together in a gangway and Vonderrit, Jr., in an aggressive manner approached and got into an altercation with the officer, who told the youth he was under arrest. Chief Dotson said the young man got away but turned and fired a gun at the officer. The officer hesitated and returned fire, aiming 17 shots at the teenager, who was struck by multiple bullets and died.
The young man’s family insists that the son, who was facing a gun charge at the time, was unarmed. They don’t believe he confronted the officer, nor do they believe the officer was right in confronting their son. The father and mother say their son was well loved, regularly visited the corner store and was friends with the owner.
They plan to fight for justice for their son. “He was outstanding people, everybody loved my son, my son loved those sandwiches,” said Vonderrit Meyers, Sr.
During the march Oct. 13 the parents and other family members were escorted to the front of the line by protestors who expressed their condolences and support for the family.
The protestors held a 2 a.m. sit-in at St. Louis University and offered hugs and a moment of silence for the slain youth. Their chants demanded justice for his death and uplifted the father. He thanked the crowd and protest organizers for their support before leaving with his wife and family.
“My son was loved,” he said. That so many of you stand with us, it shows my son is still loved, he added.
Some community leaders, politicians and activists are also standing with the family. They held a press conference the day after the shooting. Angry protestors had taken to streets the night of the shooting and were unmoved by Chief Dotson’s version of events.
“The question that I have is: Why did (the officer) pursue them? Were there any 9/11 calls? Were they just standing on the street? If that’s the case, is that a crime? Is it a crime to just be standing out talking amongst yourselves? So those are some of the questions that many of the people in the community want answered,” said State Senator Jamilah Nasheed at the press conference outside of police headquarters.
