One person was shot dead and at least two more injured in Indianapolis on Saturday night amid protests over the death of George Floyd.
Authorities say they are investigating ‘multiple shootings,’ including one that left a person dead, in downtown Indianapolis.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Chief Randal Taylor confirmed the shootings during a late night news conference, but didn’t offer any more details.
He spoke to the media shortly after midnight to say ‘enough is enough’.
George Floyd protests in Indianapolis turned dangerous for a second night Saturday
Police called people who are not residents of the downtown Indianapolis area to go home on Saturday after they claimed a small group of people escalated violence at a protest
‘Indianapolis, we are better than this. Downtown is not safe at this time. Residents who do not live in the downtown area, we’re asking to please vacate the area.’
According to the IndyStar, Taylor said that the police supported the right to peaceful protest but that a small group of people had escalated the violence throughout the night.
The police department said that it was forced to disperse a crowd at Market and Alabama Streets after projectiles were repeatedly thrown at officers and windows were broken at government buildings.
‘Earlier this evening our officers worked to protect our residents’ right to peaceful protests. Most of those protesters cooperated and did a fine job. For that, we’re thankful,’ he said.
‘However, there was a small group of people that escalated to violent acts, including throwing projectiles at officers and breaking windows of government buildings.
‘Since then, we have seen continued and escalating incidents of violence. This includes shots fired and loss of life,’ he added.
‘This is not acceptable in this community. This behavior will not be tolerated by IMPD. We’re asking that residents who do not live in the downtown area go home.’
As the group continued, there were reports of looting at restaurants and small fires set in dumpsters, banks and other locations along city streets.
Police later tweeted that no officers were involved as they again urged residents to avoid the downtown area.
A further statement from the police at around 1am on Sunday morning reported further shootings.
People in Indianapolis on Saturday protest the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who died in police custody on Memorial Day in Minneapolis
The police say that the protest in Indianapolis was mostly peaceful but that a small group began throwing projectiles at officers and breaking windows of government buildings
‘We support our residents’ right to lawful and peaceful protests,’ the department said.
‘For the safety of everyone in our city, we continue to urge residents to be peaceful in their advocacy.’
‘These are NOT officer-involved incidents,’ it added.
‘IMPD officers have not fired shots tonight.’
Protests became dangerous for a second straight night in Indianapolis as buildings were damaged, officers deployed tear gas and at least one business was briefly on fire.
According to IndyStar, the department did not know for certain how many people were arrested but Deputy Chief Josh Barker said it was ‘a number’.
‘It has been driven by violent and riotous behavior by some of the individuals who have come to the downtown area this evening,’ he said.
People broke windows on Monument Circle in Indianapolis on Saturday night as protests continued over the death of George Floyd
A man uses a fire extinguisher as groups defied a request to end the demonstration at 7pm
‘We saw one of the most successful protests that has ever experienced,’ Barker added as he commended the daytime demonstrations.
He said the police department met with protesters and organized traffic control.
The demonstrators had been asked by Mayor Joe Hogsett to disperse by 7pm but some ignored the request.
‘Unfortunately,’ Barker said, ‘there were several people who had no intention to protest. Their intention was to riot. When they culminated in front of the City-County building on Market Street, they made those intentions very well known.’
It was reported that at least six people were arrested after protesters broke windows and entered the City County Building around 9pm Saturday.
It was after this point that protesters were told they were now an ‘unlawful assembly’ and tear gas was deployed.
Rioting and violence continued in small pockets until the early hours of Sunday morning.
Elsewhere in the U.S. George Floyd riots spiraled out of control Saturday night as cop cars were torched, stores were looted and at least 10 states activated the National Guard on a fifth night of protests that show no signs of stopping.
Chicago: A Chicago police vehicle is set on fire during violent protests and bricks are hurled at it
Washington DC: The National Guard was activated to defend the White House from attack as the Secret Service agents on the ground struggled to keep control of crowds descending on the seat of the US government
Scenes of destruction continued to spread across America as the death of the black man at the hands of white cop Derek Chauvin ignited outrage over what many feel is a systemic problem with police brutality against African-American men.
In Minneapolis, protesters were seen fleeing after cops hurled tear gas into the crowds while some responded by launching fireworks back at officers.
The National Guard was activated to defend the White House from attack as the Secret Service agents on the ground struggled to keep control of crowds descending on the seat of the US government.
The Big Apple was ablaze as NYPD vehicles were torched and ransacked while shocking footage emerged of cops violently detaining protesters.
A man was left critically injured in Dallas when he was attacked and stomped on by a group of people when he allegedly tried to defend a store with a large sword.
Washington DC: The seat of the government was under threat from protesters
New York: The Big Apple was ablaze as NYPD vehicles were engulfed in flames while shocking footage emerged of cops violently detaining protesters
In Atlanta a cop suffered ‘significant injuries’ when they were hit by an ATV, while in Chicago, a man commandeered a police horse and rode off on it.
Los Angeles deployed the National Guard for the first since the 1992 riots when the police officers who beat up black man Rodney King walked free of all charges and California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in LA County.
At least 10 states and the District of Columbia have either activated or requested the National Guard including Minnesota, Georgia, Ohio, Colorado, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Utah and Texas as local law enforcement struggle to bring the carnage under control.
Meanwhile at least 25 cities rolled out emergency curfews to try to bring rioting and looting under control, including San Francisco, Atlanta, Louisville, Los Angeles, Portland, Columbia, South Carolina, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Seattle.
President Trump has put the Army on notice to deploy to the streets with a four-hour notice – the first time this will have been done in almost 20 years since the 1992 LA riots over the beating of black man Rodney King by cops.