Ferguson erupts in violence after grand jury decision
Forty-four people were arrested during a second, calmer night of demonstrations in Ferguson, Missouri, after a grand jury declined to indict a white police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black teenager in August, police said early on Wednesday.
By comparison, 61 arrests were made late Monday and into early Tuesday during a night of arson, looting, vandalism and sporadic gunfire that police countered with volleys of tear gas and smoke bombs.
More: A new wave of protests against police | Photos that define the Ferguson protests | Grand jury: Ferguson shooting details
- Ferguson firefighters survey rubble at a strip mall that was set on fire when rioting erupted following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case on November 25, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown, an 18-year-old black man, was killed by Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson police officer, on August 9. At least 12 buildings were torched and more than 50 people were arrested during the night-long rioting. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
- A Ferguson firefighter surveys damage at a strip mall that was set on fire when rioting erupted following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case on November 25, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown, an 18-year-old black man, was killed by Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson police officer, on August 9. At least 12 buildings were torched and more than 50 people were arrested during the night-long rioting. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
- A Ferguson firefighter surveys rubble at a strip mall that was set on fire when rioting erupted following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case on November 25, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown, an 18-year-old black man, was killed by Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson police officer, on August 9. At least 12 buildings were torched and more than 50 people were arrested during the night-long rioting. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
- A sign rests in the rubble of a strip mall that was set on fire when rioting erupted following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case on November 25, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown, an 18-year-old black man, was killed by Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson police officer, on August 9. At least 12 buildings were torched and more than 50 people were arrested during the night-long rioting. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
- Cars which were set on fire when rioting erupted following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case sit on a lot on November 25, 2014 in Dellword Missouri. Brown, an 18-year-old black man, was killed by Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson police officer, on August 9. At least 12 buildings were torched and more than 50 people were arrested during the night-long rioting. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
- Property manager Terri Willits looks over a gas station she manages that was set on fire when rioting erupted following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case on November 25, 2014 in Dellword Missouri. Brown, an 18-year-old black man, was killed by Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson police officer, on August 9. At least 12 buildings were torched and more than 50 people were arrested during the night-long rioting. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
- Cars which were set on fire when rioting erupted following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case sit on a lot on November 25, 2014 in Dellword Missouri. Brown, an 18-year-old black man, was killed by Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson police officer, on August 9. At least 12 buildings were torched and more than 50 people were arrested during the night-long rioting. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
- A protester’s raised arms are pictured during a march, following the Monday grand jury decision in the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in Los Angeles, California November 25, 2014. U.S. President Barack Obama said on Tuesday anyone who destroys property in rioting against a Missouri grand jury’s decision should be prosecuted, urging Americans upset by the court to work together to improve race relations. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)
- Amanda Ashe of Oakland, left, faces off with a police officer during the second night of demonstrations in Emeryville, California, following the grand jury decision in the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, November 25, 2014. (Elijah Nouvelage/Reuters)
- A demonstrator’s shadow is cast on the wall as inmates in the South Bay House of Corrections cheer from their windows in Boston, Massachusetts, November 25, 2014. Hundreds of protesters marched through Boston one day after Missouri police officer Darren Wilson was not charged for the fatal August shooting of the unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)
- National Guard soldiers stand in formation outside the Ferguson Police Department following a night of rioting in Ferguson, Missouri November 25, 2014. Aiming to head off new looting and rioting, Missouri’s governor on Tuesday ordered National Guard reinforcements into the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson following overnight violence ignited by the clearing of a white police officer in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)
- People clean up a business that was damaged in riots the previous night in Ferguson, Missouri November 25, 2014. The St. Louis area braced for another day of protests on Tuesday after a grand jury cleared a white police officer in the fatal August shooting of an unarmed black teenager, sparking a night of violent and racially charged rioting. (Jim Young/Reuters)
- Protesters lie in an intersection during a demonstration, following the Monday grand jury decision in the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in Los Angeles, California November 25, 2014. U.S. President Barack Obama said on Tuesday anyone who destroys property in rioting against a Missouri grand jury’s decision should be prosecuted, urging Americans upset by the court to work together to improve race relations. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)
- Police officers shadows are cast onto graffiti on the wall of a Subway during the second night of demonstrations in Oakland, California, following the grand jury decision in the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, November 25, 2014. (Elijah Nouvelage/Reuters)
- Police officers look over the site of a building that was burned in riots the previous night in Ferguson, Missouri November 25, 2014. The St. Louis area braced for another day of protests on Tuesday after a grand jury cleared a white police officer in the fatal August shooting of an unarmed black teenager, sparking a night of violent and racially charged rioting. (Jim Young/Reuters)
- A protester has help washing his eyes out after being pepper sprayed during a second night of protests in Ferguson, Missouri November 26, 2014. Aiming to head off new looting and rioting, Missouri’s governor on Tuesday ordered National Guard reinforcements into the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson following overnight violence ignited by the clearing of a white police officer in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)
- Volunteer Johnathan Johnson helps to clean a sidewalk outside of a restaurant that had been burned and damaged following a night of rioting in Ferguson, Missouri November 25, 2014. Aiming to head off new looting and rioting, Missouri’s governor on Tuesday ordered National Guard reinforcements into the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson following overnight violence ignited by the clearing of a white police officer in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)
- A police officer runs by a burning police car during a demonstration on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. A St. Louis County grand jury has decided to not indict Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown that sparked riots in Ferguson, Missouri in August. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
- A woman approaches the barricade to confront the police outside the Ferguson Police Department in Ferguson, Missouri, November 24, 2014. A St. Louis County grand jury chose not to indict Ferguson policeman Darren Wilson in the Aug. 9 shooting death of Michael Brown, 18, St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch said. (Adrees Latif/Reuters)
- A protestor stands in front of police vehicles with his hands up during a demonstration on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. A St. Louis County grand jury has decided to not indict Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown that sparked riots in Ferguson, Missouri in August. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
- Protesters attempt to tip over a police car during a demonstration on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. A St. Louis County grand jury has decided to not indict Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown that sparked riots in Ferguson, Missouri in August. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
- A protester stands in the street after being treated for tear gas exposure after a grand jury returned no indictment in the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, November 24, 2014. A St. Louis County grand jury chose not to indict Ferguson policeman Darren Wilson in the Aug. 9 shooting death of Michael Brown, 18, St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch said. (Adrees Latif/Reuters)
- Police form a line in the street under a holiday sign after a grand jury returned no indictment in the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri November 24, 2014. Gunshots were heard and bottles were thrown as anger rippled through a crowd outside the Ferguson Police Department in suburban St. Louis after authorities on Monday announced that a grand jury voted not to indict a white officer in the August shooting death of an unarmed black teen. (Jim Young/Reuters)
- Protesters approach a police line with their hands up after a grand jury returned no indictment in the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, November 24, 2014. A St. Louis County grand jury chose not to indict Ferguson policeman Darren Wilson in the Aug. 9 shooting death of Michael Brown, 18, St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch said. (Adrees Latif/Reuters)
- Police points his rifle at demonstrators after a grand jury decided a white policeman will not face charges for killing a black teen on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. US President Barack Obama urged calm on November 24 as violent protests broke out on the streets of Ferguson after a grand jury decided a white policeman will not face charges for killing a black teen. (Jewel Samad/Getty Images)
- Demonstrators react after learning that the police officer who shot dead 18-year-old Michael Brown will not face charge, outside the police station in Ferguson, Missouri, on November 24, 2014. The US policeman who shot dead an unarmed black teenager in the Missouri town of Ferguson, triggering weeks of racially-charged unrest, will not face charges, the St Louis County prosecutor said on November 24. Robert McCulloch told reporters that a grand jury had reviewed the evidence gathered about the August shooting and “determined that no probable cause exists to file any charge against Officer Wilson.” (Jewel Samad/Getty Images)
- Michael Brown’s mother Lesley McSpadden, center in white cap, reacts to the grand jury decision outside the Ferguson police station on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
- Protesters pray outside the Ferguson Police Department in Ferguson, Missouri, November 24, 2014. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon urged people in the St. Louis area to show respect and restraint following a grand jury’s decision on whether to criminally charge a white police officer in the August fatal shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown. Prosecutors are set to announce the grand jury’s decision at 8 p.m. local time (0200 GMT) on Monday. (Jim Young/Reuters)
- Protesters run from a cloud of tear gas after a grand jury returned no indictment in the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, November 24, 2014. A St. Louis County grand jury chose not to indict Ferguson policeman Darren Wilson in the Aug. 9 shooting death of Michael Brown, 18, St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch said. (Jim Young/Reuters)
- Protesters vandalize a police car outside the Ferguson Police Department in Ferguson, Missouri, after a grand jury returned no indictment in the shooting of Michael Brown November 24, 2014. A St. Louis County grand jury chose not to indict Ferguson policeman Darren Wilson in the Aug. 9 shooting death of Michael Brown, St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch said. (Jim Young/Reuters)
- A car burns on the street after a grand jury returned no indictment in the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri November 24, 2014. Gunshots were heard and bottles were thrown as anger rippled through a crowd outside the Ferguson Police Department in suburban St. Louis after authorities on Monday announced that a grand jury voted not to indict a white officer in the August shooting death of an unarmed black teen. (Jim Young/Reuters)
- St. Louis County police officers in riot gear stand guard in front of the Ferguson police department after a grand jury’s decision was delivered on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. A St. Louis County grand jury has decided to not indict Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown that sparked riots in Ferguson, Missouri in August. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
- Demonstrators listen to a car radio as a grand jury’s decision is delivered in front of the Ferguson police department on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. A St. Louis County grand jury has decided to not indict Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown that sparked riots in Ferguson, Missouri in August. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
- A couple embraces as a grand jury’s decision is delivered on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. A St. Louis County grand jury has decided to not indict Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown that sparked riots in Ferguson, Missouri in August. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
- A police officer points a shotgun at protestors during a demonstration on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. A St. Louis County grand jury has decided to not indict Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown that sparked riots in Ferguson, Missouri in August. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
- Protestors run away after police deployed tear gas during a demonstration on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. A St. Louis County grand jury has decided to not indict Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown that sparked riots in Ferguson, Missouri in August. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
- St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch announces the grand jury’s decision not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the August 9 shooting death on Michael Brown at the Buzz Westfall Justice Center in Clayton, Missouri, November 24, 2014. A Missouri police officer has not been charged for the fatal August shooting of an unarmed black teenager, an incident that set off weeks of sometimes violent protests around the St. Louis area, a county prosecutor said on Monday. (Cristina Fletes-Boutte/Reuters)
- A journalist is injured after rocks were thrown by protesters following the announcement of the Ferguson grand jury decision on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
- Police detain a demonstrator amid tear gas during a demonstration to protest the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, on November 24, 2014. US President Barack Obama urged calm on November 24 as violent protests broke out on the streets of Ferguson after a grand jury decided a white policeman will not face charges for killing a black teen. (Jewel Samad/Getty Images)
- A protester is arrested by police following the announcement of the Ferguson grand jury decision on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
- Missouri State Troopers in riot gear stand in formation outside the Ferguson Police Department in Ferguson, Missouri, November 24, 2014. A St. Louis County grand jury chose not to indict Ferguson policeman Darren Wilson in the Aug. 9 shooting death of Michael Brown, 18, St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch said. (Jim Young/Reuters)
- Protesters listen to the grand jury announcement in the shooting of Michael Brown outside the Ferguson Police Department in Ferguson, Missouri, November 24, 2014. A St. Louis County grand jury chose not to indict Ferguson policeman Darren Wilson in the Aug. 9 shooting death of Michael Brown, St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch said. . (Adrees Latif/Reuters)
- A protester holds a sign outside the Ferguson Police Department in Ferguson, Missouri, November 24, 2014. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon urged people in the St. Louis area to show respect and restraint following a grand jury’s decision on whether to criminally charge a white police officer in the August fatal shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown. Prosecutors are set to announce the grand jury’s decision at 8 p.m. local time (0200 GMT) on Monday. (Adrees Latif/Reuters)
- A protester stands in the street after being treated for tear gas exposure after a grand jury returned no indictment in the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, November 24, 2014. A St. Louis County grand jury chose not to indict Ferguson policeman Darren Wilson in the Aug. 9 shooting death of Michael Brown, 18, St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch said. (Adrees Latif/Reuters)
- A protester stands with his hands on his head as a cloud of tear gas approaches after a grand jury returned no indictment in the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, November 24, 2014. A St. Louis County grand jury chose not to indict Ferguson policeman Darren Wilson in the Aug. 9 shooting death of Michael Brown, 18, St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch said. (Adrees Latif/Reuters)
Some 2,000 National Guard troops were on hand to help ward off a second night of violence.
President Obama appealed for dialogue, and his attorney general promised that a federal probe into the Aug. 9 slaying of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, would be rigorous.
Officer Darren Wilson, the police officer who shot him, said his conscience was clear.- Tribune wire reports