Angry protesters set fire to buildings and cars and robbed businesses in Ferguson, Missouri, after a grand jury decided not to charge a white police officer over the death of unarmed black 18-year-old Michael Brown. The shooting led to deep racial tensions between African-Americans and police.
Within minutes of the announcement by the county’s top prosecutor, crowds began pouring into Ferguson streets to protest the decision. Some teased police, broke windows and damaged cars. Several gunshots were also heard. Officers released tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the gatherings. Violence continued throughout the evening and into early Tuesday morning.
President Barack Obama and the family of Michael Brown asked for calm. As Obama spoke live from the White House briefing room, television networks showed him on one side of the screen, and violent demonstrations in Ferguson on the other.
Long waiting crowds became angry and took to the streets around the Ferguson Police headquarters upon the decision that there was no probable cause to charge Wilson with any crime for the shooting of 18-year-old Brown this past summer.
St Louis police reported that rioters fired 150 live gunshots and more than a dozen local businesses were burnt down to the ground by arsonists. Some reports say that fire fighters have been tackling up to 25 structural fires caused by rioters.
St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said that the disturbances this time were “much worse” than those that burst out in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
There were 61 arrests in Ferguson overnight, many for burglary and trespassing, St. Louis County Police spokesman Brian Schellman said. St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay said there were 21 arrests in the city, where some protesters broke business windows along South Grand Avenue. Police said they have not fired any shots.
About 10 St. Louis-bound flights were changed or canceled Monday night because of concern about gunfire being aimed into the sky, a Lambert-St. Louis International Airport spokesman said, but the restrictions expired at 3:30 a.m.
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