By Brandie Piper
FERGUSON, Mo. — A day after violent riots marred Baltimore, groups of people gathered in Ferguson, Mo., on Tuesday, clashing with police and lighting dumpster fires throughout the city.
Shortly before 10 p.m. local time, officers were called to West Florissant Avenue for a shooting outside a restaurant. That person sustained minor injuries.
A city spokesperson said protesters were throwing rocks at patrol vehicles while officers tried to help the victims of the shooting.
Protesters started lighting dumpsters on fire, and standing in the street, prompting officers to don riot gear and close the street while they regained control of the situation.
The streets of Ferguson have been relatively calm since two officers were shot March 11 outside the police department during protests. Those officers are recovering from their injuries.
A 20-year-old protester was charged with shooting the officers — one was shot in the face, the other in the shoulder.
St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch said Jeffrey Williams admitted firing the shots but said he was shooting at someone else.
Monday in Baltimore protesters looted and burned buildings, hurled projectiles at police, and beat a Baltimore Sun photographer in the street. The riots followed the funeral of Freddie Gray who died April 12 after sustaining a mysterious spinal cord injury while in police custody.
Ferguson has been the scene of sometimes violent protests since the shooting death of unarmed black man Michael Brown, 18, by a white police officer in August. The shooting and subsequent investigation brought national attention and a Justice Department probe to the St. Louis suburb.
Contributing: John Bacon, USA TODAY.
Brandie Piper 