A large, tense and often violent crowd threw rocks and set vehicles and buildings on fire Saturday night near the scene of a fatal police shooting earlier in the day in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
After several confrontations with police and pleas from city leaders, the crowds finally dispersed early Sunday morning.
Some 100 protesters skirmished with officers hours after the shooting occurred near 44th and Auer at 3:30 p.m.
Police said the 23-year-old man was fleeing a traffic stop and was armed with a gun. It wasn't immediately clear if he pointed it at or fired it at the officer.
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According to Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, word began to spread about the protests on social media -- mostly among young people — and more demonstrators converged on the area.
A second fire was later reported at an O'Reilly Auto Parts store at 35th and Fond du Lac.
Another fire was reported at The BMO Harris branch near 44th and Auer. It was at least the fifth business to burn, along with Jet Beauty Supply on West Burleigh and the MJM Liquor Store on West Fond du Lac.
A traffic signal was also bent and bus shelters overturned.
An officer was also undergoing treatment at a local hospital after a brick was thrown through a squad window, hitting him in the head.
Barrett and a number of aldermen held a news conference at around midnight and pleaded for calm.
"If you love your son, if you love your daughter, text them, call them, pull them by the ears and get them home. Get them home right now before more damage is done," Barrett said.
Milwaukee police said it all started when two officers pulled over two suspects in a vehicle. When the suspects stopped, they both ran from the car.
The officers got out of their squad car and chased them. During the chase, one officer shot one suspect who was allegedly armed with a semiautomatic handgun.
The suspect, a 23-year-old man from Milwaukee who police say has a lengthy arrest record, died from his injuries at the scene.
The officer, a 24-year-old man, was not injured and will be placed on administrative duty.
Police say the handgun the suspect was armed with was taken during a burglary in Waukesha back in March. The victim of that burglary also told police 500 rounds of ammunition were stolen with the handgun.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
