Ferguson Protests Turn Violent After Michael Brown's Killer Told He Won't Face Prosecution (PICTURES)

27 Pictures Of Ferguson Ablaze
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The small Missouri town where an unarmed black teenager was shot dead burned amid violent protests after it was announced the officer who shot him would not face prosecution.

Flames engulfed stores and cars in Ferguson early on Tuesday morning and gunfire reportedly kept firefighters at bay.

Protesters smashed windows out of police cars and buildings, several of which were later looted and set ablaze, and officers lobbed tear gas from inside armored vehicles to disperse crowds in scenes reminiscent of the early days of unrest that followed the August 9 shooting.

The violence came after a Grand Jury announced Darren Wilson, who is white, would not face prosecution for shooting unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown. The violence came despite pleas for peace from Brown's family and others.

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)

A storage facility, two auto parts stores, a beauty supply store and pizza shop were just some of the businesses that burned.

Smashed window glass littered the sidewalks around many other businesses, from locally owned shops to a McDonalds along the main drag. The Ferguson Market — where surveillance video had recorded Brown stealing cigars minutes before he was killed — was ransacked.

Story continues beneath slideshow

Ferguson Protests Around the Country
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In this photo from Instagram user bibbiesss, people protest in New York City on Mon. Nov, 24, 2014. (credit:bibbiesss/Instagram)
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In this photo from Instagram user knoweroftheledge, protestors lay in the street for 4 1/2 minutes to represent the 4 1/2 hours Mike Brown laid in the street when he was killed. Tuesday, November 25, 2014 (credit:knoweroftheledge/instagram)
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In this photo from Twitter user MegMPress, people protest in New York City on Mon. Nov, 24, 2014. (credit:MegMPress/Twitter)
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In this photo from Instagram user, superbia454, people protest in Chicago on Mon. Nov, 24, 2014. (credit:superbia454/Instagram)
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At 5 p.m. people carrying signs and some with bullhorns startedgathering in downtown Oakland.Cadine Williams attended because her 26- year-old brother. O'Shaine Evans was killed by a San Francisco police officer in October."I'm here to be heard. No more stolen lives ," Williams, 34, said. "We all know what the putcome's going to be in Ferguson. Why is one life worth more than somebody else's?" (credit:Michael McLaughlin / The Huffington Post)
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People protest in New York City on Mon. Nov, 24, 2014. (credit:Anna Dickson/Huffington Post)
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In this photo from Instagram user, MinkuMedia, people protest in Chicago on Mon. Nov, 24, 2014. (credit:MinkuMedia/Instagram)
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In this photo from Instagram user, MinkuMedia, people protest in Chicago on Mon. Nov, 24, 2014. (credit:MinkuMedia/Instagram)
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People protest in New York City on Mon. Nov, 24, 2014. (credit:Anna Dickson/Huffington Post)
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In this photo from Instagram user radoza, people protest in Philadelphia on Mon. Nov, 24, 2014. (credit:radoza/instagram)
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In this photo from Twitter user feverfewmusic, people protest in Philadelphia on Mon. Nov, 24, 2014. (credit:feverfewmusic/Twitter)
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In this photo from Twitter user AskiaDaGreat, people protest in New York City on Mon. Nov, 24, 2014. (credit:AskiaDaGreat/Twitter)
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In this photo from Instagram user kobasounds, people protest in San Francisco on Mon. Nov, 24, 2014. (credit:kobasounds/Instagram)
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In this photo from Twitter user lilhalfpint79, people protest in Seattle on Mon. Nov, 24, 2014. (credit:lilhalfpint79/Twitter)
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In this photo from Instagram user evandagan, people protest in Seattle on Mon. Nov, 24, 2014. (credit:evandagan/Instagram)
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In this photo from Twitter user norsecodedusty, people protest in Denver on Mon. Nov, 24, 2014. (credit:norsecodedusty/Twitter)
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In this photo from Instagram user brandy__chris, people protest in Denver on Mon. Nov, 24, 2014. (credit:brandy__chris/Instagram)
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In this photo from Twitter user KatieACausey, people protest in Washington D.C. on Mon. Nov, 24, 2014. (credit:KatieACausey/Twitter)
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In this photo from Twitter user michaeljtabb, people protest in New York City. on Mon. Nov, 24, 2014. (credit:michaeljtabb/Twitter)
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In this photo from Instagram user nenweezy, people protest in Washington D.C. on Mon. Nov, 24, 2014. (credit:nenweezy/Instagram)
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In this photo from Instagram user jennrubenstein, people protest in Washington D.C. on Mon. Nov, 24, 2014. (credit:jennrubenstein/Instagram)

Huffington Post reporters have been at the scene, filming the devastation.

A CNN reporter was struck by a rock as she reported from the scene.

One resident threatened "war" with the police.