4 St. Louis police officers shot during violent riots near downtown

ST. LOUIS — Four St. Louis police officers were shot and injured during violent protests in the city Monday night and into early Tuesday morning.

Two of the officers were shot in the leg, one was shot in the foot and the fourth officer was shot in the arm, St. Louis Police Chief John Hayden told reporters outside a hospital at about 2 a.m. Tuesday.


“I believe some coward randomly shot at the police line,” Chief Hayden said giving an impassioned update. He said at this time, police have no suspects and no descriptions of the person or persons who shot the officers.

Hayden said the officers were standing off to the side of the police line when they suddenly felt pain.

“Thankfully, thank God they’re alive,” the police chief said holding back tears. “Can we make some sense out of this? That’s all I’m trying to say.”

A large peaceful protest moved in and around the downtown area until about 8 p.m. Hayden said a much smaller group of about 200 people changed the mood.

“They obviously had no intention on protesting or doing anything constructive,” Chief Hayden said.

He said the rioters were hyping up the crowd, high fiving each other and flashing pistols. He said they started throwing things at officers and then looting all over downtown.

Hayden said officers working to control the agitators had fireworks thrown at them – with some of those exploding on officers – they also had bottles and rocks thrown at them and gas poured on them.

“Officers exhibited extraordinary restraint,” Hayden said, explaining that officers only took measures on the crowd when things got violent outside police headquarters at about 9 p.m. Police in riot gear threw tear gas at the crowd and started moving in lines to break up the rioters.

“There’s a pit in my stomach. I’m stunned. We need to pray for our city and pray for these officers,” Chief Hayden said.

[NPCSN]

Rioters: Police are bad

Military Rules of Engagement: hold my beer!

[teemanz]

He literally said he trying to figure out what’s going on and how could this be! Where has he been for the last two decades

[Krckster]

How could this be? Well people are fed up that’s how.

[lescobrandon]

Does anybody here remember that when Black Lives Matter sniper murdered five Dallas Police Officers that so many cops and residents revolted?
No, I don’t either. The resulting anger was by the NFL who banned Dallas Cowboy players from wearing a memorial logo on their socks. Didn’t want to annoy the killers.

[VictorECaplon]

I mean, they could have aimed to lethal areas. Anyways, get those rioters, let the protest be peaceful and hope the cops are all right !

[Ranger]

Those poor officers had gas thrown on them and were hit with fireworks. Unreal. Their lives matter.

[paolorosario]

as the media &democrats" they are very peacefull ! very kind people every day they repeating it !

[awebs]

1 guy dies. hundreds of thousands injured, dozens die, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of dollars in damages. Good job human race. Wheres a Thanos snap when you need it most

[xixax]

TALK ABOUT THE PROTESTERS SHOT BY POLICE

[marcuslinton]

I don't mind the police getting beat downs! Let them get a taste of how they treat citizens.

[robertfrost]

When you remove the fangs from the sheepdogs, the wolves will eat the sheepdogs, then the sheep.

[borbJC]

I wonder what color or race they were ?

[dracoborne]

YOOO GOOD SHIT, KEEP UP THE GREAT AIM

[ChellyBelly]

this some funny stuff, payback is a bitch. it is only beginning

Don't you all realize this was the only way to honor floyd? Not one of you would know his name otherwise. Reforms that have already begun would have never started. Those who would make a peaceful revolution impossible, make violent revolution inevitable. Mlk. When people say silence is violence, they are talking about you.

[Bdhdudnbdjd]

Why don't you talk about the protesters who got shot from the police officers?

[frogsplease]

The police are supposed to protect serve. Deliver the bad men to their fair trial.

Not choke suspects to death in the streets.

That’s how it’s happening. There still seems to be too much confusion on the issue.

We need unarmed police with swat teams that can be called but do not patrol the streets.

Idk, ask japan how they do it.

[darrenhawkins]

That's nothing compared to all the Black people shot by police officers. American Facts

[kirawelty]

It's time for the police to go away for awhile, they are making this worse.

[morigator]

More cope gon end up dead too. Pay back has started