Angry crowds took to the streets in Milwaukee on Saturday, August 13, 2016 night to protest the shooting death of an armed man by a police officer hours earlier.
Protesters burned several stores and threw rocks at police in the city’s north side, leaving one officer injured. Smoke and orange flames filled the night sky.
The incident started Saturday afternoon when two officers stopped two people who were in a car in the north side, according to the Milwaukee Police Department.
Shortly after, both car occupants fled on foot as officers pursued them, police said.
During the chase, an officer shot one of the two — a 23-year-old man who was armed with a handgun, according to authorities.
“He (officer) ordered that individual to drop his gun, the individual did not drop his gun,” Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said. “He had the gun with him and the officer fired several times.”
The man died at the scene. It’s unclear whether the second occupant of the car is in police custody.
‘All-out-effort’ to restore order
Hours after the shooting, a large crowd turned out to protest later that night. Some demonstrators threw objects at police cars, leaving one officer hospitalized after a brick struck him in the head, the mayor said.
Some protesters set buildings ablaze, including a gas station, a beauty shop, a bank and an auto shop.
Three people who were in the gas station rushed out before it went up in flames, the mayor said.
Crowd breaks widows of unoccupied squad near Sherman and Auer. Other squad set afire and broken windows on another. pic.twitter.com/Jux2mJZYyQ
— Milwaukee Police (@MilwaukeePolice) August 14, 2016
MORE: 6 businesses set ablaze, 17 arrests made during unrest last night, Milwaukee Police Chief says. https://t.co/Pa9wcc3HAB
— ABC News (@ABC) August 14, 2016
MORE: 125 National Guard members dispatched to Milwaukee; will only be deployed if requested by city authorities. https://t.co/Pa9wcc3HAB
— ABC News (@ABC) August 14, 2016
