Hello, I'm Vera Clay, public information supervisor for the St. Louis County Police Department. In this critical incident briefing video, we will share what we know about an officer involved shooting that occurred on Friday, November 21st, 2025 inside Lambert International Airport in St. Louis, Missouri. We are committed to being open with the public and will be showing you relevant video evidence and the police response to this incident. Because this is still an active investigation, our goal is to give you the clearest picture possible based on the facts our detectives have gathered so far. The St. Louis County Police Department conducts thorough use of force investigations. This means detectives spend a significant amount of time interviewing witnesses, reviewing hours of video footage, and analyzing forensic evidence. This briefing is not meant to draw any conclusions about whether the officers acted within their department's policy or the law, but to inform you, the public, of the information we know up to this point. Investigations involving uses of force could take several months to complete. Before we start, we'd like to issue a warning. The images and video you're about to see may be distressing to watch. You may also hear abrasive language and profanity. When a police officer uses force to make an arrest or defend themselves or others against an attack, it can be graphic and difficult to watch. Viewer discretion is advised. I'm Captain Tony Cavalleti, commander of the Bureaus of Investigation. On Friday, November 21st, 2025, St. Louis County Police Bureau of Crimes Against Persons detectives were requested by the St. Louis Airport Police Department to investigate an officer involved shooting that left an adult male deceased. At approximately 12:41 a.m., St. St. Louis airport police officers were conducting foot patrols in Terminal 1, when they encountered an adult male, now identified as Darius Kennedy, standing near a restroom entrance. Officers instructed Mr. Kennedy to leave the airport. However, Mr. Kennedy refused to comply and pulled a knife from the sleeve of his jacket. The officers issued multiple verbal commands to Mr. Kennedy, instructing him to drop the knife. Mr. Kennedy ignored those commands and moved toward officers. One officer deployed a taser, striking Mr. Kennedy, but was ineffective. Mr. Kennedy, who was still armed with a knife, turned and ran in the direction of another police officer. That officer fired a service weapon striking Mr. Kennedy. You're about to hear relevant police radio traffic of the officer's response to this incident. >> We got on point. Shots fired. EMS it. >> What's your location? >> Link hallway. >> EMS1. >> EMS1, need your response for a subject with a gunshot wound hallway. >> Now you will see body warn camera video of this incident. Viewer discretion is strongly advised. >> Body warn cameras worn by St. Louis airport police department officers have a 30 second buffer of video without audio. Upon activation, the camera goes back 30 seconds and begins recording. Available lighting, movement, distance, and other factors can affect clarity and picture quality. >> Listen here. DROP IT. DROP THE KNIFE. DROP IT. DROP. Drop the knife. [ __ ] Put your hands up. Now I'm blowing your [ __ ] head off. >> Shots fired. Shots fired. Shots fired. EMS. >> Put your back. hallway. >> How's it going, bud? >> Huh? >> About to leave. You can't leave. >> What do you mean you can't leave? >> I leave. >> You got to what? >> If I leave, I'm going to get killed. >> You're going to get killed. >> Hey, bro. >> Listen here. DROP IT. >> DROP THE KNIFE. >> DROP IT. >> DROP IT. >> DROP IT. >> Mother son of a Get the [ __ ] Put your hands up now. I'll blow your [ __ ] head off. >> Shots fired. Shots fired. >> EMS is needed. >> Hey, hey, hey, behind your back. >> Put your hands behind your back. Following the shooting, the officers administered aid to Mr. Kennedy. However, he was pronounced deceased on scene. The investigation later determined Mr. Kennedy was 31 years old and was unhoused. Detectives recovered a knife attributed to Mr. Kennedy. In total, four shots were fired by law enforcement. The St. Louis airport police officer involved in the deadly use of force is 43 years of age with two years of law enforcement experience. No officers were physically injured in this incident. >> The St. Louis County Police Department has all its nonsensitive policies and procedures available on our website www.saint louiscounty police.com. The policies applicable to this incident and release of information are general order 16-68, public information and news media policy. The St. Louis County Police Department will continue to investigate and analyze this incident for as long as it may take. Detectives will continue to interview any new witnesses that may come forward and document and analyze new evidence that is discovered. After the investigation is complete, the findings will be forwarded to the St. Louisis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office for an independent review. Thank you for taking the time to view this critical incident briefing.