Missouri Highway Patrol Captain Ron Johnson said criminals were shooting at police officers from behind bushes in residential neighborhoods in Ferguson on Monday evening.
“Our officers were under gunfire last night,” he said. “[The shooters] were hiding behind bushes near homes.”
In an appearance on MSNBC’s Daily Rundown on Tuesday after another chaotic evening of riots and confrontations, Johnson said rioters were “shooting at police last night behind bushes and buildings–shooting at police.” He said four officers had minor injuries throughout the evening but that it could have been much worse. He also stated that no protesters were injured as a result of police action, but two protesters were shot by other rioters.
Johnson told host Craig Melvin that the officers “didn’t want to take the risk” and “used great restraint” not to fire into homes or risk stray bullets entering homes.
At least 30 people were reportedly arrested while rioting Monday, and Johnson said the officers were put in danger “by that element of criminals that seem to get into the crowd” and are “looting our stores” and putting bricks in the streets for rioters to throw at police officers.
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