The suburb of Ferguson, Missouri resembles a smoldering warzone on Tuesday morning after a night of violence, looting and destruction that followed the Grand Jury’s decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson over the shooting of teenager Michael Brown. More than 12 buildings were set alight by the rioters, many local businesses that will now face a battle to survive, while cars were upturned and shops that were not set ablaze were looted and vandalised.
St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar, who reported more than 150 gunshots during the evening (none from police), said: “What I've seen tonight is probably much worse than the worst night we had in August," referring to the initial riots after Brown’s death earlier this year. More than 1,000 people gathered in Ferguson’s main street to hear the verdict of the Grand Jury, including the family of the victim. Police said that they arrested 80 people during the evening’s mayhem.
Upon hearing the verdict, Brown's family released a statement that read:
We are profoundly disappointed that the killer of our child will not face the consequence of his actions. While we understand that many others share our pain, we ask that you channel your frustration in ways that will make a positive change. We need to work together to fix the system that allowed this to happen.
The protests were not limited to St Louis suburb, with demonstrations reported in cities across the US, including New York, Seattle and Oakland. In Los Angeles, police used projectiles to disperse a large crowd that had taken to the streets. Yet Ferguson was worst hit, with the community now desperate to avoid another night of violence and hoping to heal the deep racial divisions once again exposed by the killing of an African American man by an agent of the state.
Ferguson clean up after riots
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Cars which were set on fire when rioting erupted following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case sit on a lot on November 25, 2014 in Dellword Missouri. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
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A reporter looks through the window of a laundromat that was damaged during a demonstration on November 25, 2014 in Dellwood, Missouri. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
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A St. Louis county police officer uses police tape to secure a building that eas burned during a demonstration on November 25, 2014 in Dellwood, Missouri. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
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A sign sits amidst rubble at a building that was damaged during a demonstration on November 25, 2014 in Dellwood, Missouri. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
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St. Louis county police officers search a business in a building that was burned during a demonstration on November 25, 2014 in Dellwood,Missouri. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
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A worker cleans up glass at a building that was damaged during a demonstration on November 25, 2014 in Dellwood, Missouri. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
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St. Louis county police officers talk with a business owner in a building that was burned during a demonstration on November 25, 2014 in Dellwood, Missouri. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
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St. Louis county police officers search a business in a building that was burned during a demonstration on November 25, 2014 in Dellwood, Missouri. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
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A St. Louis county police officer uses police tape to secure a building that eas burned during a demonstration on November 25, 2014 in Dellwood, Missouri. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
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St. Louis county police officers talk with a business owner in a building that was burned during a demonstration on November 25, 2014 in Dellwood, Missouri. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
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Cars which were set on fire when rioting erupted following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case sit on a lot on November 25, 2014 in Dellword Missouri. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
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Property manager Terri Willits looks over a gas station she manages that was set on fire when rioting erupted following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case on November 25, 2014 in Dellword Missouri. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
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Workers board up a window of a restaurant after it was smashed when rioting erupted following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case on November 25, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
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St. Louis county police officers investigate a business that was damaged during a demonstration. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
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A worker cleans up glass at a business that was damaged' (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
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A worker cleans up glass at a business that was damaged during a demonstration on November 25, 2014 in Ferguson. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
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A mannequin head sits behind broken glass at a beauty supply business. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
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A worker cleans up glass at their shop in Ferguson. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
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A damaged beauty supply store is seen after violent protests damaged businesses. (credit:Aaron P. Bernstein via Getty Images)
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Craig Kidd helps to clean up after violent protests. (credit:Aaron P. Bernstein via Getty Images)
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Awash in the spray of a sprinkler system, volunteer Jenna Fleischmann helps to clean up. (credit:Aaron P. Bernstein via Getty Images)
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A looted cell phone store is seen the morning after violent protests damaged businesses. (credit:Aaron P. Bernstein via Getty Images)
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Volunteer Sarah Holmes helps to clean up after violent protests damaged businesses following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case on November 25. (credit:Aaron P. Bernstein via Getty Images)
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Ferguson firefighters pack up after extinguishing a fire at a strip mall that was set on fire when rioting erupted following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case on November 25, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
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A Ferguson firefighter surveys rubble at a strip mall that was set on fire when rioting erupted following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case on November 25, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
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A Ferguson firefighter surveys damage at a strip mall that was set on fire when rioting erupted following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case on November 25, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
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A sign rests in the rubble of a strip mall that was set on fire when rioting erupted following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case on November 25, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
Ferguson Erupts
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Firefighters attempt to put out a burning building during riots after grand jury's decision not to indict a police officer Darren Wilson. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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A police car is set ablaze during clashes with protesters following the grand jury decision in the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson (credit:JEWEL SAMAD via Getty Images)
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Police confront protestors after rioting broke out following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
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Police gather on the street. (credit:AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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car drives by a burning building during a demonstration on November 25, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
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A police car is set on fire after a group of protesters vandalise the vehicle. (credit:AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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Police officers walk by a burning police car during a demonstration. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
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A man walks past a burning police vehicle during clashes between police and protesters over the decision in the shooting death 18-year-old Michael Brown. (credit:JEWEL SAMAD via Getty Images)
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.A row of cars burn at a used car lot during a demonstration. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
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A photographer runs by a burning building during a demonstration on November 25, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
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Protesters run for shelter as smoke fills the streets (credit:AP)
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Police officers watch the neighborhood as some buildings are set on fire. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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A grand jury has decided not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown, the unarmed, black 18-year-old whose fatal shooting sparked sometimes violent protests. (credit:AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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Ferguson Market and Liquor store is vandalized after the announcement of the grand jury decision Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, in Ferguson, Mo. (credit:AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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A protester walks out of a store with goods. (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
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A protester squirts lighter fluid on a police car as the car windows are shuttered. (credit:AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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An armed police officer guards the area after a group of protesters vandalise a police cruiser. (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
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Police arrive at the scene of fire Monday. (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
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Police guard the area as some buildings are set on fire. (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
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People run as they come out a gas station with goods. (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
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Smoke fills the streets as some buildings are on fire after. (credit:AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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A man steps out of a vandalised store. (credit:AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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Ferguson Market and Liquor store is vandalised. (credit:AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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A man runs from a police car that is set on fire. (credit:AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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A protester walks out of a store with goods. (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
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A police officer takes cover. (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
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Police officers watch the neighborhood as some buildings are set on fire. (credit:AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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Police officers guard as protesters react to the announcement of the grand jury decision. (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
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A group of protesters vandalise a police vehicle after the announcement of the grand jury decision. (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
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A protestor runs in front of a burning business during rioting. (credit:Aaron P. Bernstein via Getty Images)
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A building burns after being set on fire during clashes between police and protesters over decision in the shooting death 18-year-old Michael Brown. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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A building burns after being set on fire during clashes between police and protester. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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A police vehicle is vandalised and set on fire. (AP Photo/David Goldman) (credit:AP Photo/David Goldman)
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A building burns after being set on fire during clashes between police and protesters. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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FERGUSON, MO - NOVEMBER 24: Demonstrators celebrate as a business burns after it was set on fire during rioting following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Ferguson has been struggling to return to normal after Brown, an 18-year-old black man, was killed by Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson police officer, on August 9. His death has sparked months of sometimes violent protests in Ferguson. A grand jury today declined to indict officer Wilson. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
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Police stand guard during rioting on November 24, 2014 in Ferguson. (credit:Aaron P. Bernstein via Getty Images)
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A police officer stands guard during rioting. (credit:Aaron P. Bernstein via Getty Images)
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Lesley McSpadden, the mother of Michael Brown, wearing sunglasses, reacts as she listens to the announcement of the grand jury decision. (credit:AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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Looters run out of a business during rioting. (credit:Aaron P. Bernstein via Getty Images)
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Police stand guard near shops during rioting in Ferguson. (credit:Aaron P. Bernstein via Getty Images)
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Police clash with protesters following the grand jury decision in the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson. (credit:JEWEL SAMAD via Getty Images)
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Protesters attack a police car during clashes. (credit:JEWEL SAMAD via Getty Images)
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Police officers in armored vehicles stand guard in front of the Ferguson police department during a demonstration. (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
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Police confront protestors after rioting broke out. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
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Lesley McSpadden (L), mother of Michael Brown, reacts to the decision by the Grand Jury not to indict Officer Daren Wilson in the shooting death of her son, in Ferguson. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Smoke fills the streets as some buildings are on fire (credit:AP)
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A protester squirts lighter fluid on a police car as the car windows are shuttered near the Ferguson Police Department (credit:AP)
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People gather around the burning stores (credit:AP)
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People walk away from a storage facility on fire (credit:AP)
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Cars burn at a dealership Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014, in Dellwood, Mo. (credit:AP)
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A protestor stands in front of a burning car. (credit:AP)
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Cars burn at a dealership Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014, in Dellwood, Mo. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Police arrive at a business Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014, in Dellwood, Mo., as cars in a parking lot next to the building burn. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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People stand in front of one of many burning buildings after the riot erupted when the Grand Jury announced they will not indict white Officer Daren Wilson in the shooting death of black 18-year old Michael Brown in Ferguson. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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People stand in front of one of many burning buildings after the riot erupted when the Grand Jury announced they will not indict white Officer Daren Wilson in the shooting death of black 18-year old Michael Brown in Ferguson. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Riot police run past a burning St. Louis County police car as hundreds of protesters gather . (credit:The Washington Post via Getty Images)
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Protesters ride around after the announcement of the grand jury decision. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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People walk out of a gas station with goods as police arrive. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Police officers grab a protester after the announcement of the grand jury decision. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Police in riot gear move down the street past a burning police car. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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A Ferguson firefighter surveys damage at a strip mall that was set on fire when rioting erupted. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
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A Ferguson firefighter surveys damage to a strip mall. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
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A Ferguson firefighter surveys rubble at a strip mall that was set on fire when rioting erupted following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case on November 25. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)