Post by Frank on Aug 11, 2015 11:11:29 GMT 10
Shows how one incident can have a knock on effect for long time
www.news.com.au/world/state-of-emergency-declared-after-new-shootings-in-ferguson/story-fndir2ev-1227478162627
A STATE of emergency has been declared in the US city of St Louis after several people were shot after a march marking the anniversary of the killing of black teenager Michael Brown.
St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger issued the order in a move that authorises county Police Chief Jon Belmar to take control of police emergency management in and around Ferguson.
Several shots rang out late last night on West Florissant Avenue. Police shot and critically wounded one suspect, 18-year-old Tyrone Harris Jr. — a friend of Michael Brown, the black, unarmed 18-year-old whose killing by a white Ferguson police officer touched off the “Black Lives Matter” movement.
Police allege Harris had shot through the windshield of an unmarked police van with four plainclothes officers inside.
The officers were not injured.
Harris’ father says he believes that his son was unarmed, and he called the police version “a bunch of lies.”
He said his son was unarmed and had been drawn into a dispute involving two groups of young people.
Belmar has not said what steps he will take to preserve order after violence broke out during protests on the anniversary of the fatal shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown.
Yesterday, another reported shooting drew officers to an apartment building in the area.
Two males told police they were targeted in a drive-by shooting near the memorial to Brown outside Canfield Apartments. A 17-year-old was shot in the chest and shoulder while a 19-year-old was shot in the chest, but their injuries were not life-threatening, the St. Louis County Police said in a news release.
Separately, police said a 17-year-old suspect has been charged with unlawful use of a weapon and one count of resisting arrest after he fired shots near the protesters late Sunday. He is being held on $100,000 bond.
St. Louis County prosecutors last night announced 10 charges against Harris — 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.
