It’s been an ugly week in St. Louis, addressed today in press conferences by Democrat Mayor Francis Slay and Police Chief Sam Dotson. As Twitchy reported last night, police attempting to serve a warrant fatally shot an 18-year-old whom they say pointed a gun at them. That quickly escalated from a gathering of angry neighbors to a full-blown protest march involving thrown bottles and bricks, tear gas, looting, car fires and more.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch photojournalist Robert Cohen documented the morning after.
Andre Anderson woke and came to help cleanup Walton Ave in Fountain Park. "I had a dream that St. Louis was on fire." pic.twitter.com/ua4bAz3koE
— Robert Cohen (@kodacohen) August 20, 2015
Sanad Motan sees damage to his Adam's Market, looted in Fountain Park in #STL. pic.twitter.com/nz47JIz0qA
— Robert Cohen (@kodacohen) August 20, 2015
Car smolders morning after being set on fire in #STL Fountain Park neighborhood during Wed. protests. #MansurBallBey pic.twitter.com/AIv48DJTmR
— Robert Cohen (@kodacohen) August 20, 2015
An armored vehicle was the visual highlight of the police response.
Police lined up with assault rifles, riot gear, shotguns with rubber bullets, a tank. #Stl pic.twitter.com/gelv99X5Zm
— Spinninnanight (@kidnoble) August 20, 2015
Last year, Mayor Slay conceded to many of the 19 “rules of engagement” presented to him by Ferguson protesters and the Don’t Shoot Coalition. “We do not want to appear to militarize our response,” he said, “so our officers will start by wearing their normal uniforms.” That rule didn’t stick for very long last night.
Tuesday night presented a much sadder story, as 9-year-old Jamyla Bolden was shot and killed when someone fired shots into her Ferguson home. Her mother suffered injuries to her leg and was treated at the hospital and released.
Police officer describes heartbreak of fatal shooting of 9-year-old #JamylaBolden http://t.co/AYy8tt56RF pic.twitter.com/icjFpDQVrL
— St. Louis Post-Dispatch (@stltoday) August 20, 2015
Ferguson Sgt. Dominica Fuller responded to fatal Shooting of child #JamylaBolden. She is also a mom of a 9yo @stltoday presser starting
— Nancy Cambria (@nanecam) August 20, 2015
To the shooter, Sgt. Fuller said come forward. "Think what this family is feeling to lose the life of a child." #JamylaBolden
— Nancy Cambria (@nanecam) August 20, 2015
The two incidents had Mayor Slay asking the public to ask what the week would have looked like “without all the guns.”
Imagine this week without all the guns. Then try to explain why common sense laws should not be enacted. #fgs
— Francis G. Slay (@MayorSlay) August 20, 2015
I strongly believe that the police should be operating the most visibly where the criminals are. #fgs
— Francis G. Slay (@MayorSlay) August 20, 2015
That's why they were serving warrants in the Fountain Park neighborhood. #fgs
— Francis G. Slay (@MayorSlay) August 20, 2015
.@MayorSlay: "The wider community supports protest goals" but said criminals use peaceful cover for their criminal activity.
— Jack Witthaus (@JackWitthaus) August 20, 2015
.@MayorSlay calls for calm and peace today. Says community understand protest goals, but criminals use protest as a cover for crimes.
— St. Louis Post-Dispatch (@stltoday) August 20, 2015
Simply put, the rest of the city is not going to let the people of Fountain Park be held hostage by violence. #fgs
— Francis G. Slay (@MayorSlay) August 20, 2015
Investigations will determine whether the officers acted legally in shooting Mr. Ball-Bey. The results will be public. #fgs
— Francis G. Slay (@MayorSlay) August 20, 2015
"The idea is to keep people safe. Last night, no police or protesters were injured." @ChiefSLMPD #STL pic.twitter.com/HPaJeMCaOx
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) August 20, 2015
.@ChiefSLMPD after the press conference: "Setting a car on fire does not further the cause."
— Jack Witthaus (@JackWitthaus) August 20, 2015
So, is there a chance the mayor would elaborate on “common sense” gun laws? It’s a term we hear a lot with different definitions every time.
@MayorSlay riiight…as if there aren't already laws against assaulting people with guns. Work on your verbal manipulation tactics, "Mayor".
— Fleshly Gripes (@FellzWargo) August 20, 2015
https://twitter.com/dfoxtrotcharlie/status/634401236536659968
@MayorSlay cause there are plenty of laws already…common sense will tell you it's not guns but condition of people's hearts using them.
— Daniel Cressey (@KingdomAdvocate) August 20, 2015
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