The latest in the events marking a year since the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri .
St. Louis County Police say an officer who came under heavy gunfire returned shots amid a protest in Ferguson.
The department confirmed the shooting in a statement on Sunday night, less than an hour after shots rang out as hundreds had gathered to mark the anniversary of the death of Michael Brown. The police department tweeted that at least two unmarked cars were hit by gunfire.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether any one was injured in the shooting, but minutes after the shots were heard, an Associated Press photographer saw a man lying face down, covered in blood, behind a boarded-up restaurant. It wasn’t immediately clear how badly the man was injured.
Later, an AP reporter saw a woman overcome with grief. Friends were consoling her. She screamed: “Why did they do it?” Another woman nearby fainted.
A man nearby said, “They killed my brother.”
A demonstration along West Florissant Avenue in Ferguson, Missouri, has been disrupted by gunfire.
Shots rang out just after 11:15 p.m. Sunday. It was unclear where the shots came from. It wasn’t immediately clear whether anyone was hit.
Protesters who had gathered in the street fled in multiple directions, hiding behind cars and taking cover in buildings.
A police helicopter appeared overhead, shining a spotlight down on the street. Dozens of police cars and an armored vehicle converged on the area.
St. Louis County Police posted on Twitter that multiple shots were fired and asked people to leave the area. A spokesman for the department didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Sunday marks the one year anniversary of the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson.
Protesters have been warned to clear the roadway along West Florissant Avenue in Ferguson, Missouri, or face arrest.
Several hundred protesters who had gathered to mark the anniversary of the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown blocked traffic. An officer said through a bullhorn they would be arrested if they did not move.
Someone threw a glass bottle at officers but missed. Others cursed at officers.
For the first time in three nights of protests, some officers were dressed in riot gear, including bullet-proof vests and helmets with shields.
A grand jury and the U.S. Department of Justice declined to prosecute Ferguson Police officer Darren Wilson, who shot Brown, but the shooting touched off a national “Black Lives Matter” movement.
Hundreds of demonstrators in Ferguson, Missouri, have taken shelter under awnings as a severe storm brings heavy rain, lightning and strong wings to the area.
There was a much heavier police presence along West Florissant Avenue late Sunday than on previous nights. Officers patrolled the street and nearby shopping centers, which were the site of protests, riots and looting after the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown a year ago.
A beauty supply store had a front window broken out after nightfall. It wasn’t clear if anything was taken, and there was no indication the damage was related to the demonstration. Police were on the scene.
The anniversary of Brown’s death has sparked renewed protests, though ones much smaller than those a year ago. Organizers of some of the weekend activities have pledged a day of civil disobedience on Monday, but have not yet offered specific details.
A march to mark the anniversary of the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown has ended in Ferguson, Missouri.
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ref: Us news
