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Benton Harbor police release body camera video of fatal shooting

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BENTON HARBOR, Mich. - The Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety is releasing a video clip from a body camera from an officer at the scene of a fatal shooting from early Tuesday morning.

Darius Wimberly - photo from Benton Harbor Public Safety

Darius Wimberly, also known as Karate, 28, was killed in a shootout with police at about 2:00am Tuesday. Police were leaving the scene of a false call when a Wimberly allegedly opened fire on officers and on residents of the home.  Officers returned fire, killing Wimberly.  Wimberly was found in possession of two guns, one of which had been fired and was out of ammunition.

The video being released Wednesday is from an officer who was at the scene, but was not the officer who fired the shots at Wimberly.  Public Safety Director Daniel McGinnis, Jr. says that the segment is just over a minute long and shows the officers leaving the home where they were called. There is an audio edit about 12 seconds in, redacting the name and date of birth of one of the occupants of the home, who was not involved in the shooting.

About 47 seconds in, shooting begins.  The officers run for cover and the officer who is recording briefly points his gun in the direction of the shots, but does not fire.

McGinnis says in a release that they are working with Wimberly's family and that they have "a duty to serve this family as members of our community."

You can watch the video below.  It does contain some strong language.  More video is expected to be released over time.