Officer Shot in Ferguson Amid Riots After Grand Jury Verdict: Police Dep't

A police officer was shot as violence grows amid protesters angry with the grand jury's ruling not to press charges against the policeman who killed Michael Brown.

MOSCOW, November 25 (Sputnik) - A police officer has been shot amid riots that erupted after a grand jury in the US city of Ferguson, Missouri, announced they would not indict a local policeman in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teen, according to the official Twitter account of St. Louis County Police Department.

"A U. City police officer has been shot. Condition is unknown. Search for suspect underway. It is unclear if related to Ferguson Decision," the statement said on Monday.

A U. City police officer has been shot. Condition is unknown. Search for suspect underway. It is unclear if related to #FergusonDecision

— St. Louis County PD (@stlcountypd) 25 ноября 2014

The police officer who was shot in University City, St. Louis is expected to recover and his shooting may not have been related to the ongoing protests in Ferguson, St. Louis Police Department has reported.

 

U. City officer was shot in the arm. He is expected to be okay. Shooting may not be related to #Ferguson unrest.

— St. Louis County PD (@stlcountypd) 25 ноября 2014

Protesters set buildings ablaze and looted stores in the US town of Ferguson on Monday after a grand jury chose not to press charges against Officer Darren Wilson, who had fired and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown after getting into an "altercation" with the teenager in the street.

US President Barack Obama and the bereaved family appealed in vain for calm after a prosecutor said a grand jury had found the policeman acted in self-defense.

Members of an angry crowd outside the police station where Wilson had been threw bottles and stones. A police car was set alight and nearby stores looted.

Riot officers responded with tear gas, batons and flash grenades, and running battles broke out in the streets of the St. Louis suburb, with armored cars moving slowly through the area.