LOUIS, (Reuters) – Hundreds of protesters poured into St. Louis’ streets and some scuffles broke out as they voiced their anger after a Missouri judge yesterday ruled a white former St. Louis police officer was not guilty of murder in the 2011 shooting of a black man.
With the National Guard on standby in case of violence, authorities appealed to protesters to march peacefully in a state where racially charged clashes in the nearby city of Ferguson spawned the Black Lives Matter movement in 2014.
Police said a few protesters threw rocks and water bottles, while witnesses and video showed officers used pepper spray on at least five people about a block from the courthouse. About 50 riot police were on hand, blocking a ramp to a nearby highway.
Jason Stockley, 36, was acquitted of first-degree murder for killing Anthony Lamar Smith, 24. The former policeman said Smith fled in his car when he attempted to arrest him on drug charges.
Stockley and his partner chased Smith, who was shot five times in his car. The former policeman thought Smith had a gun, defense attorneys said. A gun was found in the car but prosecutors argued Stockley planted the weapon and the gun had only Stockley’s DNA on it.
After the verdict, about 600 protesters marched in downtown St. Louis, chanting “No justice, no peace” and “Hey hey! Ho ho! These killer cops have got to go!”
Some protesters held signs that read “Black Lives Matter” and “No more racist killer cops.”
