Protests during the one-year anniversary of the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson turned violent after police say two groups of people exchanged fired late last night. The local police chief said that a group of about six individuals shot a “remarkable” number of rounds in under a minute. A short time later, police shot Tyrone Harris Jr. after he approached an unmarked police vehicle and began firing shots the officers.
The 18-year-old is currently in critical condition. As the St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes, most of the day was filled with peaceful protests and remembrances. Harris’ father told the paper that his son was close friends with Michael Brown, the unarmed teen who was shot by police during a confrontation with officer Darren Wilson last year. The officers involved in the latest shooting were not wearing body cameras, and no police officers sustained serious injuries. The police chief emphasized to reporters that the individuals that began opening fire “were criminals. They weren’t protestors.”
