Footage from a US police officer's body-cam shows a man who was killed after being shot multiple times by officers had a gun in a holster with police firing at him as he ran away and spun around reaching towards his waist.
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The shooting death of Harith Augustus, 37, on Saturday in Chicago's predominantly black South Side neighbourhood has sparked violent clashes between police and protesters.
Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson on Sunday said he'd ordered the quick release of the 30-second video clip to dispel rumours the victim was unarmed and ward off any further confrontations between residents and police.
Protesters took to the streets in a city that's struggled with police shootings, especially against black men and other minorities.
Some threw rocks and bottles at officers - including ones filled with urine - and police pulled people to the ground and hit them with batons.
"The community needs some answers and they need them now," Supt. Johnson told reporters on Sunday.
"We can't have another night like last night."
He said Augustus' family were in favour of releasing the video for the same reason.
Four protesters were arrested in the clash, and some police officers suffered minor injuries. Two squad cars also were damaged.
The video, which lacks sound, shows four officers approaching Augustus outside a shop. An officer points to Augustus' waist and he backs away. Three officers try to grab his arms and he tries to get away, backing into a police cruiser as his shirt flies up and shows the gun.
The footage then zooms in on the weapon, which police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said was done to ensure a semi-automatic handgun in its holster and two bullet magazines tucked into Augustus' waist could be seen clearly.
Augustus then runs into the street as a police SUV drives up. He spins and darts between the SUV and the police cruiser as he reaches toward his waist.
Augustus did not fire his weapon and the footage does not show him pulling the gun out of its holster, though he does appear to try to grab something at his waist, Guglielmi said.
Augustus died of multiple gunshots wounds, medical examiners said. He wasn't a known gang member and had no recent arrest history, Guglielmi said.
Australian Associated Press
