Two Black Men shot by Washington State Police Officer

According to law enforcement, two unarmed black men suffered injuries after a police officer in the Washington state capital of Olympia shot them. The men were trying to steal beer from a supermarket on Thursday. According to Olympia Police Chief Ronnie Roberts, the incident led to the hospitalization of the men. The men, aged 21 and 24, are recovering from their injuries, but one is in critical condition.

The men were not armed but they attacked officer Ryan Donald with a skateboard. Donald, who had been with the Olympia Police Department for three years, warned them before opening fire.

The incident is the latest in the series of police confrontations seen across the US, bringing under scanner the law enforcement agencies.

The incident has triggered protests in Olympia, a city of about 48,000 people with 2% of black population. Nearly 400 people expressed their anger against the shooting of the black men on the streets on Thursday evening. They met at a park before marching to City Hall.

The authority has identified the two men as brothers Andre Thompson and Bryson Chaplin. The condition of elder brother Thompson is stable, but Chaplin is critical, said Chief Brad Watkins of the Thurston County Sheriff's Office.

“We are committed to helping our community work through this difficult circumstance and help us understand this tragic event”, said Roberts.

Roberts said the officer felt threatened by the confrontation and used his firearm after the two men didn’t pay heed to his warning.