A candlelight vigil for 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was shot multiple times by a St. Louis police officer, was held Sunday night.
The fallout continues after the police shooting death of an unarmed Black man in Ferguson, Missouri. Tensions in the city escalated after a candlelight vigil for victim 18-year-old Michael Brown Sunday. Police say they shot Brown multiple times Saturday after he was allegedly involved in a scuffle with a Ferguson police officer.
After the vigil, a frustrated, angry, and unruly crowd began looting and setting fire to stores, vandalizing vehicles, and taunting police officers, who tried blocking access to areas around the city. St. Louis police say 32 people were arrested during the incident. Some were charged with assault, burglary, and theft. Two officers were injured, but no one else was hurt.
Looters disguised themselves before ransacking and vandalizing a store.
Thousands of angry protestors take to the streets Sunday after a police officer killed 18-year-old Michael Brown.
Police used tear gas to get the crowd under control after several businesses were looted, including a check cashing store, boutique, and small grocery store. Looters took items from a sporting goods store and cellphone retailers, and wheeled rims away from a tire store. Others expressed their frustrations by climbing on top of police cars.
The Associated Press reports Mayor James Knowles says a violent protest is not helping the situation. “The small group of people are creating a huge mess,” Mayor Knowles said. “Contributing to the unrest that is going on is not going to help … We’re only hurting ourselves, only hurting our community, hurting our neighbors.”
Protestors block a Ferguson street and hold their hands up as a police officer approaches.
Saturday, police say an officer encountered Brown and another man outside of an apartment complex in Ferguson. One of the men pushed the officer and they struggled, and one shot was fired from the officer’s gun. It’s still unclear if Brown was the one scuffling with the officer. However, police say the incident spilled out into the street where an unarmed Brown was shot multiple times. The second person at the scene has not been arrested or charged.
The race of the officer involved in shooting Brown has not been disclosed. He has been placed on paid administrative leave.