Protesters were really prepared to march downtown St. Louis yesterday. Authorities declared a state of emergency in Ferguson, Missouri, after gunfire erupted on the anniversary of a high-profile police shooting and prosecutors on Monday charged an 18-year-old man with assault on officers. The man, Tyrone Harris, was critically wounded in an exchange of gunfire with police on Sunday night as people marked the shooting death one year ago of unarmed black man Michael Brown by a white officer in Ferguson, a suburb of St. Louis.
FERGUSON, the United States, Aug.10 A state of emergency was declared for the city of Ferguson on Monday following gun battle between police and protesters Sunday night marking the anniversary of Michael Brown's death.
St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger issued a state of emergency effective immediately Monday afternoon.
"In light of last night's violence and unrest in the city of Ferguson, and the potential for harm to persons and property, I am exercising my authority as county executive to issue a state of emergency effective immediately," Stenger said in a statement.
"The recent acts of violence will not be tolerated in a community that has worked so tirelessly over the last year to rebuild and become stronger," Stenger added.
Protesters pray at the federal courthouse in downtown St. Louis August 10, 2015. Authorities declared a state of emergency in Ferguson, Missouri, after gunfire erupted on the anniversary of a high-profile police shooting and prosecutors on Monday charged an 18-year-old man with assault on officers. The man, Tyrone Harris, was critically wounded in an exchange of gunfire with police on Sunday night as people marked the shooting death one year ago of unarmed black man Michael Brown by a white officer in Ferguson, a suburb of St. Louis.
The Sunday night scene was chaotic as police reported some 20 minutes of shooting, when people dropped to the ground to avoid flying bullets, and sprinted to cover behind cars on the street.
Police have identified one of the alleged combatants as 18-year-old Tyrone Harris Jr., who was shot by police during the fray Sunday night, saying he is in critical condition in a local hospital and undergoing surgery.
However, his father, Tyrone Harris Sr., told media that his son was innocent, and was unarmed.
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