UPDATE: Night of Unrest Continues After Ferguson Decision

By Jim Suhr and Andale GrossAssociated Press

FERGUSON, Mo. – Flames engulfed at least a dozen businesses in Ferguson early Tuesday and gunfire kept firefighters at bay after protests over the decision not to indict a police officer in Michael Brown’s death turned violent, despite pleas for peace from Brown’s family and others.

Protesters smashed windows out of police cars and buildings, several of which were later looted and set ablaze, and officers lobbed tear gas from inside armored vehicles to disperse crowds in scenes reminiscent of the early days of unrest that followed the Aug. 9 shooting.

But the violence that followed Monday’s decision to not indict Officer Darren Wilson, who is white, in the death of the unarmed black 18-year-old quickly took a more destructive turn – a storage facility, two auto parts stores, a beauty supply store and pizza shop were just some of the businesses that burned.

An Associated Press photographer saw firefighters arrive at one scene only to be turned back by gunfire.

St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said during an early morning news conference that he “personally heard about 150 shots fired” during the course of the night, but said police did not fire a shot. He said most of at least a dozen burned businesses were “total losses” and noted two police cars were “basically melted.”

“I don’t think we were underprepared,” Belmar said. “But I’ll be honest with you, unless we bring 10,000 policemen in here, I don’t think we can prevent folks who really are intent on destroying a community.”

Smashed window glass littered the sidewalks around many other businesses, from mom-and-pop shops to a McDonalds along the main drag. The Ferguson Market — where surveillance video had recorded Brown stealing cigars minutes before he was killed – was ransacked.

At least one building and several vehicles in a used car lot also burned in the neighboring city of Dellwood.

The vast majority of protesters had left the streets by late Monday, but looting and gunfire still were reported well after midnight.

Hundreds of people had gathered outside the Ferguson Police Department ahead of St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch’s news conference to announce the grand jury’s decision.

As McCulloch read his statement, a crowd gathered around a car from which the news conference was broadcast on a stereo. Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden, sat atop the car. When the decision was announced, she burst into tears and began screaming before being whisked away by supporters.

A short time later, Brown’s family issued a statement asking people to keep their protests peaceful, echoing pleas they had issued several times in the days and weeks leading up to the decision.

“Answering violence with violence is not the appropriate reaction,” the statement said.

But some protesters overran barricades and taunted police. Some chanted “murderer” and others threw rocks and bottles. The windows of a police car were smashed and protesters tried to topple it before it was set on fire, though some in the crowd tried to stop others from taking part in the violence.

Officers responded by firing what authorities said was smoke and pepper spray into the crowd. St. Louis County Police later confirmed tear gas also was used.

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NEW: Obama urges calm after Ferguson decision

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama says he joins with Michael Brown’s family in urging peaceful protests after a grand jury decided not to indict the Ferguson police officer who shot and killed the unarmed, black 18-year-old.

Obama made the comments Monday moments after official word of the grand jury’s decision.

The president said first and foremost the nation is built on the rule of law. He said despite anger and intense disagreement on either side, Americans need to accept the decision that the grand jury made.

The Justice Department is also conducting an investigation into possible civil rights violations that could result in federal charges.

FERGUSON-BROWN FAMILY STATEMENT

NEW: Brown family statement calls for peaceful protests

FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) – Michael Brown’s family issued this statement after a prosecutor announced that a grand jury has decided not to indict Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson:

We are profoundly disappointed that the killer of our child will not face the consequence of his actions.

While we understand that many others share our pain, we ask that you channel your frustration in ways that will make a positive change. We need to work together to fix the system that allowed this to happen.

Join with us in our campaign to ensure that every police officer working the streets in this country wears a body camera.

We respectfully ask that you please keep your protests peaceful. Answering violence with violence is not the appropriate reaction.

Let’s not just make noise, let’s make a difference.

FERGUSON-CROWDS

NEW: Smoke, pepper spray deployed into Ferguson crowd

FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) – St. Louis County Police say officers have used smoke and pepper spray to disperse crowds near the Ferguson Police Department after some protesters smashed the windows of a police car and threw rocks and other items at authorities.

Police cars were vandalized and several gunshots were heard Monday night as crowds erupted in anger after the announcement that Officer Darren Wilson will not be indicted in the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown.

Some in the crowd reportedly tried to stop others from taking part in vandalism and other violence.

US-FERGUSON-MCCASKILL-STATEMENT

NEW: McCaskill calls for peaceful response in Missouri

ST. LOUIS (AP) – U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri is calling for residents and law enforcement in her home state to remain peaceful after the announcement that a white police officer will not be indicted in the shooting death of an unarmed black 18-year-old.

The Democratic senator made the comments Monday night after official word of the grand jury’s decision not to indict Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson, who shot and killed Michael Brown.

McCaskill called the announcement “a result of a deliberate legal process.” She says the result is being “independently checked” by a separate U.S. Justice Department investigation.

The Justice Department is investigating possible civil rights violations. The department also has launched a broad probe into the Ferguson Police Department, looking for patterns of discrimination.

FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) – A grand jury has decided not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown, the unarmed, black 18-year-old whose fatal shooting sparked weeks of sometimes-violent protests.

St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch announced the decision Monday evening. A grand jury of nine whites and three blacks had been meeting weekly since Aug. 20 to consider evidence.

At least nine votes would have been required to indict Wilson. The panel met in secret, a standard practice for such proceedings.

The Justice Department is conducting a separate investigation into possible civil rights violations that could result in federal charges. The department also has launched a broad probe into the Ferguson Police Department, looking for patterns of discrimination.

FERGUSON-CROWDS

UPDATE: Ferguson crowd erupts in anger at no indictment

FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) – A crowd gathered in Ferguson erupted in anger, throwing things at police and knocking down a barricade as a county prosecutor announced that police Officer Darren Wilson will not face charges in the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown.

As St. Louis County prosecutor Bob McCulloch read his statement on the decision Monday night, a crowd gathered around a car from which his news conference was being broadcast on a stereo. Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden, sat atop the vehicle.

When the decision was announced, McSpadden burst into tears and began screaming before being whisked away by supporters.

The crowd converged on a barricade where police in riot gear stood along the street. They pushed the barricade down and began pelting police with items, including a bullhorn. Officers stood their ground.

CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) – A prosecutor in St. Louis County, Missouri, says a grand jury has decided not to indict a white police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black 19-year-old. Prosecutor Bob McCulloch says witnesses made inconsistent statements, some of which were completely refuted by physical evidence in the shooting of Michael Brown by officer Darren Wilson. McCulloch says the grand jury met for 25 days and heard all witnesses and examined all the evidence.

CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) – Local officials and community leaders have urged calm in the St. Louis area. Their appeal came prior to the announcement by a prosecutor that no charges were recommended by a grand jury against the white police officer charged with killing an unarmed black 18-year-old. Some schools and businesses closed. Protests and rallies have been planned in many cities.