Ferguson protesters ignore pleas from Michael Brown's family, President Obama and turn violent

By RYAN GORMAN

The grand jury decision to not indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson for the fatal shooting of Michael Brown was met with violent protests across the suburban St. Louis city.

Pleas from both the Brown family and President Barack Obama fell on deaf ears as protestors took to the boarded up streets of Ferguson lighting police cars on fire, looting, throwing objects and even exchanging gunfire with police.

The protestors' anger was only further provoked by authorities deciding to announce the grand jury findings at 8:00 p.m., hours after the jurors finished deliberating and were sent home for the day.

"Let's not make noise, let's make a difference," the family said in a statement that was clearly ignored by violent throngs of agitators.

St. Louis County Police reacted by firing flash bangs, smoke bombs and tear gas to disperse increasingly angry mobs of people.

CNN reporters insisted that tear gas was being fired at them despite authorities assurances that only smoke bombs were being used.

Many demonstrators wore masks as they doused police cruisers in lighter fluid, tossed bricks, and fired guns at police in riot gear.

"There's never an excuse for violence," said the president, but, again, his pleas fell on deaf ears.

Hundreds of people looted stores, set them on fire and threw bottles at police while running from repeated canisters of tear gas being fired at them.

A cell phone store, pizza place and another business were among those reported on fire. At least two police cruisers were also lit ablaze.

Sirens and flashing lights dominated the landscape in the blocks surrounding the square mile around the Ferguson Police Department, not far from where Brown was fatally shot.

The protestors quickly diminished by about 10:30 p.m. after about an hour of mayhem on South Florissant, the main commercial street in the area.

Related links:
Ferguson grand jury says Darren Wilson will NOT face trial for shooting dead Michael Brown
Michael Brown's family calls for peaceful protests after Ferguson grand jury decision