US black police officer shot in arm by white colleague

Grab screen shows the scene where a black St Louis, Missouri police officer was shot by his white colleague.

A white police officer in the US Missouri city of St Louis has shot his black colleague “apparently” assessing him as a threat.

The police officer, who was shot, was off duty when he heard gunfire near his home and tried to help three fellow officers arrest some suspected car thieves.

The off-duty officer was recognized by two of the officers but was shot by the third officer who did not recognize him, police said.

Friendly fire

On Wednesday night there was a report of a stolen car.

Police officers went in pursuit of the stolen car when three suspects inside the vehicle opened fire.

They chased the vehicle until it crashed. The suspects got out of their vehicle and ran. Two of them were arrested while the third escaped.

An off-duty officer, who heard the commotion from his home nearby, rushed to the scene with his department-issued weapon.

The first two officers on the scene ordered the off-duty officer to the ground, but then recognized him as a fellow officer in the department, and told him to stand up and approach them.

A white officer who had just arrived on the scene saw the off-duty black officer walking toward other officers and, “apparently not recognizing and fearing for his safety”, shot the officer in the arm.

Grab screen shows the scene where a black St Louis, Missouri police officer was shot by his white colleague.

The 38-year-old off-duty officer, who has been with the department for 11 years, was taken to a hospital for treatment, and later released.

The officer who shot the off-duty officer is 36 years old, and has been with the department more than eight years.

Police said the officer who shot the off-duty officer has been placed on administrative leave as authorities in Internal Investigations were continuing to investigate the incident.