More protests in St. Louis over police violence

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Protests in St Louis, Missouri turned violent Sunday for the third consecutive day, after people took to the streets to demonstrate against the acquittal of a former police officer involved in the shooting of a black man.

Hundreds of protesters earlier staged a "die in" outside police headquarters and marched through the city before returning to the police building.

Peaceful demonstrations turned violent on the two previous nights, with the city on edge since Friday's acquittal of former police officerJason Stockley.

Protesters shatter glass of windows during the second night of demonstartion in St. Louis. /Reuters Photo

"Agitators are breaking multiple windows at Olive & 10th. Officers are heading to scene," police tweeted.

At least 35 people have been arrested since Friday, and 11 police officers are reported to have been injured in clashes with stone-throwing protesters.

Store windows were smashed by vandals during the worst of the violence on Friday night.

People continue to march after the not guilty verdict in the murder trial of Jason Stockley, a former St. Louis police officer charged with the 2011 shooting of Anthony Lamar Smith, in St. Louis, Missouri, US on September 17, 2017. / Reuters Photo

St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporters on the scene reported soon afterwards that vandals were breaking store windows, targeting small businesses and a restaurant.

"Protest is a mess now. People running everywhere, bike cops in pursuit," tweeted Mike Faulk, a Post-Dispatch journalist.

It comes after Stockley shot Anthony Lamar Smith, a black man, to death after a car chase in 2011 that followed an arrest attempt on suspected drugs-related charges.

Reuters Photo

Prosecutors brought first degree murder charges in 2016, alleging that Stockley's comments showed premeditation and that he had planted a silver revolver in Smith's car.

But Judge Timothy Wilson acquitted Stockley, finding that the evidence on the gun, as well as the officer's videotaped comment, provided insufficient grounds to convict.

A protester is sprayed with pepper by riot police after throwing a chair through a window of a business during the second night of demonstration in St. Louis. /Reuters Photo

U2 and Ed Sheeran concerts were among several events canceled over the tense weekend.

Entertainment firm Live Nation and U2 jointly announced the cancellation of the group's scheduled Saturday show in a statement citing concerns about fans' security.

Others included a St. Louis Symphony Orchestra concert and a "Shakespeare in the Streets" event.

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Source(s): AFP