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This is the moment a Hong Kong police officer shot
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an antigovernment protester.
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[gunshot]
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It marks a major escalation:
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The first time an officer fired a live round
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at a demonstrator
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since protests began almost four months ago.
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The scene was chaotic
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and captured on camera from various angles.
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We analyzed the footage to paint a comprehensive picture
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of what exactly happened.
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Let's take a closer look: It's China's National Day.
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Hong Kong is engulfed in protests.
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In the Tsuen Wan neighborhood,
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a group of 15 protesters
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approach officers in riot gear.
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They start chasing and attacking
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one of the officers with umbrellas and what
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appear to be metal rods.
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The officer falls to the ground
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and protesters continue to beat him.
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We see one man swinging a hammer,
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and another person is holding a wrench.
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Police deploy tear gas.
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From this angle,
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we see an officer running up to the chaos
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with his revolver already drawn.
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A shot rings out.
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[gunshot]
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Here is the scene from another angle.
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We see the protester who's about to get shot.
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He's carrying a blue shield.
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The officer shoots him just as he's
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swinging a metal rod at him.
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He stumbles and falls over the officer on the ground.
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The group scatters.
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One protester attempts to help the victim.
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He is tackled to the ground by another officer.
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A person dressed in black, who appears to be a protester,
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throws a Molotov cocktail at the officers from afar
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and then flees.
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We see at least two officers
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have their guns drawn.
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Another one holds a pepper-spray can
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threatening those nearby.
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Only now does the officer who shot the protester
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put his gun away.
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Note that he also carries nonlethal weapons.
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He's holding a shotgun, which is likely loaded
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with rubber bullets,
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and has pepper spray in his holster.
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The protester who was shot remains on the ground,
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seemingly conscious.
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We don't see any of the officers
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provide first aid at this point.
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According to U.N. basic principles,
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officers should only use firearms
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under imminent threat of death or serious injury,
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and they need to give a clear warning of their intent
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to use a gun.
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The officer in the video does not
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appear to warn the protesters that he is going to shoot.
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Police said that one protester had
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tried to stab the officer on the ground
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with a sharp object and that police had warned protesters
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to stop.
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They defended their officer's decision to use live fire.
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Police said that the 18-year-old protester
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was shot near his left shoulder
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and was taken to the hospital.
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The incident marks a clear escalation in police
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response to the protests and is sure to fuel more unrest
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among the people of Hong Kong.