Protesters even scrawled “Killer Cop #Darren Wilson” on the side of the pig and later approached the police station with the animal, offering some to officers. After consuming the pig, the head was left on a concrete slap in front of the station.
Protesters decapitated Darren Wilson and offered some to Ferguson Police #MikeBrown #UnitedWeFight #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/O0BKn8N8Rs
— Why So Serious? (@The4th_Duck) agosto 9, 2015
Later on Sunday night, the protests turned violent as a shootout occurred between demonstrators (or rather, criminals – take your pick) and police.
Steve Stenger, St. Louis County Executive, declared a state of emergency, giving county Police Chief Jon Belmar authorization to take full control of police emergency management in Ferguson and surrounding areas.
Protests also occurred outside the city. 50 or so protesters were arrested on Monday after blocking the entrance to the federal courthouse in downtown St. Louis. Civil rights activist Cornel West was among those arrested.
That protest, like other commemoration events over the past few days, was largely peaceful and somber. But on Sunday, several hundred people gathered in the street on West Florissant, ignoring an officer on a bullhorn repeatedly warning them to get to the sidewalk or face arrest. Eventually, a few lobbed glass bottles and rocks at officers. One officer was hospitalized with cuts to the face after being hit with a rock. Two others had minor injuries after protesters sprayed them with pepper spray.
As tensions escalated, several gunshots suddenly rang out from the area near a strip of stores, including some that had been looted moments earlier. Belmar believes the shots came from about six different shooters. What prompted the shooting was not clear, but Belmar said two groups had been feuding. The shots sent protesters and reporters running for cover.
The shooters included the suspect, identified by his father as 18-year-old Tyrone Harris Jr., whom police had been watching out of concern that he was armed, Belmar said.
During the gunfire, the suspect crossed the street and apparently spotted plainclothes officers arriving in an unmarked van with distinctive red and blue police lights, Belmar said. The suspect allegedly shot into the windshield of the van.
The four officers in the van fired back, then pursued the suspect on foot. The suspect again fired on the officers when he became trapped in a fenced-in area, the chief said, and all four opened fire.
Harris was in critical condition after surgery early Monday. Prosecutors announced 10 charges against him – five counts of armed criminal action, four counts of first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer and a firearms charge. All 10 are felonies.
All four officers in the van, each wearing protective vests, escaped injury. They were not wearing body cameras, Belmar said.
Tyrone Harris Sr. told The Associated Press his son was a close friend of Michael Brown and was in Ferguson Sunday night to pay respects.
The elder Harris said his son got caught up in a dispute among two groups of young people and was “running for his life” after gunfire broke out.
“My son was running to the police to ask for help, and he was shot,” he said. “It’s all a bunch of lies … They’re making my son look like a criminal.”
One thing to think about is Obama and his ilk want us at each others throats. We need to educate our brothers and sisters, especially the young. When will our legal system work for us and throw the bums out? Many need to be prosecuted. Would love to see this anarchy backfire on those perpetrating it!
Nothing like taking a picture of yourself to the police station
when one is not busy about a bright future…..
every few months when they run out of stuff this will be brought up again so they can go loot something
Those who go looking for trouble generally find it.
Unbelievable!