Police in St. Louis have arrested a man in connection to the death of David Dorn, a 77-year-old black man and a retired police captain who was fatally shot during rioting in the city.
Stephan Cannon, 24, has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, and three counts of armed criminal action as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm, local television station KSDK reported.
Dorn, who spent more than three decades with the city police department, was shot and killed outside a pawnshop in the city, which is owned by a friend, last week. His wife told local media that her husband would often stop by the store to check on it or respond whenever the security alarm went off.
Widely-circulated video taken at the scene the night of his death showed Dorn’s body lying motionless on the sidewalk moments after he was shot.
“It is apparent from the surveillance that at the time the shots were fired, Cannon was the only person standing at that corner,” charging documents allege. “Once Dorn has been shot and falls to the ground, Cannon can be seen approaching the door to the pawnshop.”
Police said they found a television that had been stolen from the pawnshop at the residence where Cannon was arrested. Cannon told police he was in the pawnshop that night and admitted to cutting his hair in an attempt to change his appearance after his photograph was distributed.
Tributes for Dorn poured in following news of his death.
“David Dorn was exercising law enforcement training that he learned here, so in his honor, we are wearing our mourning badge,” St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Police Chief John Hayden said. “David Dorn was a fine captain. Many of us younger officers looked up to him. So very well-liked and very pleasant. And his wife still works here, so a very sad time for our agency. We will honor him.”
Cannon is currently being held without bond, and several other individuals have been charged with other crimes related to looting at the store.
Protests spread across the nation after the death of George Floyd, an unarmed back man, in Minnesota police custody last week. In some instances, looting, rioting, arson, and vandalism have occurred alongside demonstrations.
