During a protest early Thursday morning in Ferguson, Missouri, shots were fired and two police officers were seriously injured. A live-stream video being shot from across the street by one of the protesters captured the moment.
As the first shot rang out a woman near the camera screamed in surprise (at 0:27 in the video). Then after one or two more shots, a man, presumably one of the officers who was hit, could be heard moaning as if in pain. Protesters began to run away from the scene of the violence, and when the camera turns back to police they can be seen swarming, apparently trying to help the injured officers.
Seconds later, in what can only be described as a surreal moment, someone on the protesters’ side of the street taunts the police in a loud voice saying, “Acknowledgement nine months ago would have kept that from happening.” (0:48) The protester, whose face isn’t seen, was apparently referring to the shooting of Michael Brown, which took place last August.
St. Louis Police Chief Belmar spoke to the press shortly after the incident. Christine Byers of the St. Louis Post Dispatch reported on Twitter that one officer was hit in the shoulder, while the other officer was hit in the face. Both officers were conscious but said to have “very serious” injuries.
Protesters indicated the shots had come from a hill behind them. Police massed and went up the hill, but Chief Belmar said he had no description of a possible suspect.
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