Police Officer Austin Fraser from the point of view of Officer Ty Warren (St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department).
Footage captured from body cameras reveals two police officers in St. Louis, Missouri apparently neglecting their duties upon discovering a man who had been shot in a park. The officers can be heard using inappropriate language to refer to the injured man and expressing frustration about the extra work it would entail.
“S—, we’re going to have to take this motherf—er, then,” said an officer identified as Ty Warren.
“We ain’t taking this s—,” said Austin Fraser.
At the time of the exchange, they were scheduled to get off work in 30 minutes.
“Let’s cruise around and come back,” Fraser is heard saying.
Responding to a 911 call made by Urayoan Rodriguez-Rivera, who had expressed suicidal intentions, the officers initially left the scene. They later returned alongside a third officer but eventually departed without resolving the situation, as per reports from St. Louis affiliate KMOV.
Within seconds of stepping out of their vehicle that Sept. 10, 2023, at the local Forest Park, the officers found Rodriguez-Rivera’s body.
Voicing shock that they found him, both officers noted the victim appeared barely alive, and that he appeared to be gravely wounded.
“That’s all brain s—-,” Warren said.
“Yeah,” said Fraser. “He shoot himself in the head?”
“I don’t know,” Warren said.
Rodriguez-Rivera was indeed alive, and he is heard breathing hoarsely throughout body camera footage.
Despite the incident being officially classified as a suicide, law enforcement supposedly failed to locate the firearm involved. This raises concerns about the thoroughness of the investigation conducted by the officers.
St. Louis police spokesman Mitch McCoy told KMOV that they are treating the gun as stolen and they are investigating its disappearance. They are also keeping an eye on any activity on the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network.
“The two individuals are no longer employed by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department,” McCoy reportedly said. “While we are unable to comment on specific personnel matters, SLMPD holds its officers to the highest of standards. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken if an officer is found to have violated policies.”
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