Title: Stun Guns Implicated in Death of Manic Teen

Police officers in Jerseyville, Illinois, a bedroom community outside of St. Louis, approached a 17-year-old male who was behaving erratically on Sunday. He was waving a Bible and continually shouting “I want Jesus.” As they neared Roger Holyfield, he did not acknowledge their presence at first, and then he became combative. Officers tried to calm the teen, but were unsuccessful.
Police warned Holyfield repeatedly but he ignored their warnings – several of them. In order to control the young man, police used a stun gun. According to authorities, even after being stunned, he continued struggling, so they stunned him a second time.

Following the confrontation on Saturday, Holyfield was flown the 40 miles to St. Louis’ Cardinal Glennon Hospital for treatment. He died on Sunday. City and police officials issued a statement expressing sympathy for Holyfield’s family, but declined to discuss the matter further. Calls placed to the Jerseyville Police Chief Brad Blackorby were not returned.

Unfortunately for St. Louis, the city garnered unwanted attention this week. It was named the most dangerous U.S. city by Morgan Quitno Press. The only crime statistics included in the ranking were within the St. Louis city limits. The metro area was not included in the statistics considered.

St. Louis authorities plan to perform an autopsy on Tuesday.