During the riots in the aftermath of George Floyd's death, many innocent civilians and law enforcement officials were hurt and, in some cases, killed.
One of these people is retired officer David Dorn.
He was shot in the back while protecting a friend's pawn shop from looters.
Dorn died on the scene.
His death hit the community hard, as Dorn was known for trying to build bridges between the black community and the police department.
As a black cop, Dorn was also respected for being a mentor to many young men.
Now, authorities have captured their prime suspect: Stephan Cannon.
He has officially been charged with the shooting of retired police officer David Dorn.
More details on this breaking development below:
Stephan Cannon was identified after St. Louis Police release surveillance footage and images of the person they believe shot Dorn.
The footage was taken from security cameras inside the pawn shop.
Here is the footage released by the St. Louis Police department:
Cannon has officially been charged with 1st degree murder and is being held without Bond.
It is currently being reported that Cannon is the only suspect of interest in this case. He also faces other charges including robbery and possession of a firearm.
Time magazine confirms the arrest and charges:
A 24-year-old St. Louis man has been charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a retired police captain who died on a night of violent protests while trying to protect his friend’s pawn shop, the city’s prosecutor announced Sunday
Stephan Cannon was being held without bond on a first-degree murder charge in the death of David Dorn, 77, who was killed Tuesday on the sidewalk outside Lee’s Pawn and Jewelry. Dorn’s last moments were caught on video and apparently posted on Facebook Live, though the video has since been taken down.
Dorn’s death came on a violent night in St. Louis, where four officers were shot, officers were pelted with rocks and fireworks, and 55 businesses were burglarized or damaged, including a convenience store that burned.
The unrest came as cities across the U.S. have seen protests and violence since George Floyd died May 25 after a white Minneapolis officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for several minutes, even after the handcuffed black man stopped moving and pleading for air.
St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner announced the charges.According to a police probable cause statement, Cannon was among those seen on surveillance footage entering the store and then stealing several televisions, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. Dorn, a friend of the pawn shop’s owner who was in the habit of checking on the business when alarms went off, arrived at the store. Cannon then walked toward the street corner with gun in his hand.
“At the time the shots were fired, (Cannon) was the only person standing at that corner,” the probable cause statement reads. “Multiple plumes of smoke” can be seen coming from where Cannon was standing, and shell casings were found on the spot, police said.
Though civil unrest has dominated the headlines in the last few weeks, we are glad to see that justice is still being carried out.
If you believe that Black Lives Matter, then that means that ALL black lives matter.
David Dorn, a black man, did not make the national headlines (likely because he was a police officer).
But the reality is that his death is just as tragic and unjustified as George Floyd's.
We must not allow double-standards to permeate through the national discourse.
Truth is truth.
We say this loud and clear: David Dorn's life mattered!
May justice be pursued for his untimely and unjust death.
St. Louis Today confirms that Dorn's alleged killer is in police custody:
Charges have been filed against a 24-year-old man who police believe fatally shot retired St. Louis police Capt. David Dorn, 77, on the sidewalk outside Lee’s Pawn and Jewelry early Tuesday morning.
Stephan Cannon, 24, of Glasgow Village, has been charged with first-degree murder. He is being held without bond.
As downtown St. Louis descended into violence and chaos Monday night into Tuesday morning, Dorn, also a retired municipal police chief, attempted to protect the pawn shop from looting. He was shot multiple times, and his killing was broadcast on Facebook Live.
According to a police probable cause statement, Cannon was seen on surveillance footage pulling up and entering the store with others, and then stealing several televisions. Once Dorn arrived at the store, Cannon walked toward the street corner with a gun in his hand.
[...]After Dorn fell to the ground, Cannon approached the entrance to the store, according to the police statement. A witness told police that someone told everyone in the store that they could leave, and looters fled from the back entrance.
A stolen television was later found where Cannon was arrested. He admitted to police that he changed his hair and appearance once he saw his image being distributed to the public.
“Based upon the diligent work of the police department, collaboration with the Circuit Attorney’s Office, and the cooperation from the outraged community, we have issued charges for the tragic murder of former Captain David Dorn,” a statement from the Circuit Attorney’s Office said.
Cannon was also charged with robbery in the first degree, burglary in the first degree, three counts of armed criminal action and felon in possession of a firearm.
Dorn is an inspiration.
His story deserves to be told.
Dorn entered the police department in St. Louis in 1969 as a complete rookie.
His hard work and exemplary performance resulted in him being promoted all the way to captain.
THIS is the American dream.
Hard work equals success... for all people.
He retired in 2007 after 38 years of service to the people of St. Louis.
May you rest in peace.
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