Video of White Cop Fatally Shooting Unarmed Black Teen Shown at Officer’s 1st Day of Trial

A shocking video showing teenager Antwon Rose's fatal shooting by a police officer was presented on the first day of his alleged killer's trial.

The trial of former Police Officer Michael Rosfeld in Pittsburg for the murder of 17-year-old high school student Antwon Rose II in June of 2018 is underway.

On the first day, the prosecution presented into evidence a video of the white officer shooting the black teenager.

THE DEATH OF ANTWON ROSE II

30-year-old Rosfeld fired three bullets into Rose after pulling over an unlicensed taxicab suspected of being involved in a crime.

Rose was running away from the cab when he was shot, with bullets hitting his arm, face, and back.

The defense will be alleging that for Rosfeld, Rose would have presented as a clear and present danger.

A SUSPECTED DRIVE-BY SHOOTING

Rosfeld had pulled over the vehicle suspecting it had been used in a drive-by shooting just minutes before.

When the men in the cab attempted to flee on foot, he opened fire, killing Rose.

BLACK LIVES MATTER DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR POLICE SHOOTINGS

The death of Antwon Rose was yet another incident on the long list of casualties - young unarmed black men shot by the police - which sparked the Black Lives Matter movement.

THE CHALLENGE FACING THE JURY

The jury will be faced with a complicated decision because even though Rosfeld shot Rose in the back, his defense will be focusing on the fact that the teen was in a car used in a drive-by shooting just minutes before the incident.

"This car was involved in an attempted murder — that's why it's being stopped. It's not being stopped for going through a stop sign."

The defense will be alleging that for Rosfeld, Rose would have presented as a clear and present danger.

FORENSIC EVIDENCE WILL BE CRUCIAL

The case against Michael ROsfeld will stand and fall on the forensic evidence presented by investigators.

Although Antwon Rose was unarmed at the time of the shooting, a gun matching the drive-by attempted murder was found under his seat, with his DNA on it. The postmortem also found traces of gun residue on his hands.

The defence will be pushing the theory that although the teen was unarmed at the timeof his death, the officer had reasonable grounds for suspecthing he might be armed and reacted with deadly force to save his own life.

Police have been under fire for excessive use of force, and the number of victims has been growing apace with protests and demands for accountability.