A bill to limit police use of deadly force has advanced in the Missouri Senate, an effort aimed at addressing concerns raised after the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson.
The Missouri Senate gave initial approval to the bill Tuesday on a voice vote.
Current law justifies deadly force when an officer believes a suspect has committed or attempted a felony, is escaping with a deadly weapon or poses a serious threat of danger to others.
The bill would change part of that law to allow deadly force only if police reasonably believe the suspect has committed or tried to commit a violent felony.
The measure needs a second full Senate vote before it can move to the House.