Eric Eichelberger

Deadly force

An off-duty officer shot Eric Eichelberger in the head when he allegedly tried to rob him at gunpoint in an alley by the officer's home. According to police, the officer was in the alley at about 4:15 p.m. when Eichelberger pointed a gun at him. The officer gave Eichelberger his wallet and then drew his own pistol. The officer shot Eichelberger when he allegedly refused to drop his gun. Eichelberger was taken off life support and died the next afternoon. Eichelberger's mother disputed the officer's claim, citing concrete burns on her son's hands and feet as evidence he'd fought for his life. She also said her son had told her the week earlier that St. Louis police were trying to pin whatever they could on him.