Video shows teen struggling for gun before being shot by cops

Publish date: 2024-05-02

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Dramatic bodycam footage shows police shooting dead a Tennessee teen in his high school bathroom as he grabs a gun while resisting arrest — as officials announced that none of the officers will be charged.

Anthony J. Thompson Jr., 17, was sitting in a bathroom stall in Knoxville’s Austin-East Magnet High School when officers came in to arrest him on April 12 after his ex-girlfriend’s mom lodged a formal complaint of domestic abuse.

As he was told to put his hands behind his back to be cuffed, the teen suddenly struggled as he reached for a handgun in his hoodie — with it discharging during the struggle.

Officer Jonathon Clabough saw the gun “with Anthony Thompson’s hand” on the butt and “thinks, ‘I’m about to die,'” Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen said while releasing the footage during a two-hour press conference Wednesday.

Clabough can be seen removing his weapon and shooting Thompson in the shoulder, firing again as Thompson fell to the floor with the officers surrounding him.

Officers showed up to arrest Anthony Thompson Jr. after his ex-girlfriend’s mom filed a formal complaint of domestic abuse. Ben Crump Law

The teen’s gun fell to the floor during the scuffle, but the officers all said they did not know that at the time — and assumed he had it in his hand ready to fire.

Anthony Thompson Jr. was sitting in a school bathroom stall when officers came in to arrest him. Knoxville DA

Clabough’s second shot accidentally hit Police Officer Adam Wilson in the leg, a wound that the officers initially thought was from Thompson shooting, Allen said.

During the arrest, Anthony Thompson Jr. struggled as he reached for a handgun in his hoodie. Knoxville DA

The footage showed another student in the bathroom also cuffed and held on the floor, where he can be heard crying out in distress at seeing blood coming from his fellow student’s body.

After seeing the gun, Officer Jonathon Clabough unholstered his weapon and shot Thompson in the shoulder. Knoxville DA

At least three other Austin-East students have died from gun violence this year, officials noted.

A medical examiner’s report showed that, because of the way Clabough shot Thompson, there was nothing the officers or school nurse could have done to save his life.

Officer Jonathon Clabough’s second shot struck Officer Adam Wilson in the leg. Knoxville DA

“This is a self-defense case,” Allen insisted as he announced no charges would be pressed.

Another student in the bathroom was cuffed and held on the floor during Anthony Thompson Jr.’s arrest. Knoxville DA

“It wasn’t an easy case; it wasn’t clean-cut,” he said, adding that “at the end of the day, we have found the shooting by Officer Clabough was justified.”

Officer Jonathon Clabough’s shooting of Anthony Thompson Jr. was an act of self-defense, says the Knox County attorney general. Knoxville Police Department

Knoxville Police Chief Eve Thomas said in a statement that she was thankful the investigation determined that her officers’ actions were justified and they were “cleared of any wrongdoing.”

Thompson’s family spent four hours with Allen earlier that day going over every detail of the footage, she said.

Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon said she had reached out to Thompson’s family to express her sympathy but they did not want to meet with her.

“My heart goes out to the family of Anthony Thompson Jr. and also the other families of children who have lost their lives in other circumstances, all in such a short time all from the same school. It’s heartbreaking,” she said.

The family is being represented by Ben Crump, the high-profile civil rights attorney who also helped George Floyd’s family.

“Once again, when a black person is killed, in this case a black child, the police quickly shape a narrative to justify the death,” Crump had said Monday, before the footage was released.

Three other Austin-East students have died from gun violence this year. Brianna Paciorka/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP

After in-person classes were paused because of the most recent shooting, students will return Thursday.

With Post wires

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