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| Ferguson decision: Ruling sparks night of violence | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The St Louis suburb of Ferguson has seen rioting and looting after a jury decision not to bring charges over the killing of Michael Brown. | The St Louis suburb of Ferguson has seen rioting and looting after a jury decision not to bring charges over the killing of Michael Brown. |
| A local police chief said the violence was "probably much worse than the worst night we ever had in August" after the black teenager was killed. | A local police chief said the violence was "probably much worse than the worst night we ever had in August" after the black teenager was killed. |
| St Louis county police chief Jon Belmar said he had heard 150 shots fired by crowds. | St Louis county police chief Jon Belmar said he had heard 150 shots fired by crowds. |
| Mr Brown was shot by a white police officer on 9 August, sparking protests. | Mr Brown was shot by a white police officer on 9 August, sparking protests. |
| Many in the African American community had called for police officer Darren Wilson to be charged with murder. | Many in the African American community had called for police officer Darren Wilson to be charged with murder. |
| President Barack Obama joined the teenager's family on Monday in appealing for calm, urging Americans to accept the decision was "the grand jury's to make''. | President Barack Obama joined the teenager's family on Monday in appealing for calm, urging Americans to accept the decision was "the grand jury's to make''. |
| The BBC's Aleem Maqbool reported seeing more vandalism and looting after the ruling than on any night in August. | |
| 'Out of control' | 'Out of control' |
| "I didn't see a lot of peaceful protest out there tonight, and I'm disappointed about that," Mr Belmar said. "Unfortunately this spun out of control." | |
| Most of at least a dozen burned businesses were "total losses", he said, and two police cars had been "basically melted". | Most of at least a dozen burned businesses were "total losses", he said, and two police cars had been "basically melted". |
| "I don't think we were underprepared," he added. "But I'll be honest with you, unless we bring 10,000 policemen in here, I don't think we can prevent folks who really are intent on destroying a community." | "I don't think we were underprepared," he added. "But I'll be honest with you, unless we bring 10,000 policemen in here, I don't think we can prevent folks who really are intent on destroying a community." |
| Some protesters charged barricades and taunted police. Chants of "murderer" could be heard. | Some protesters charged barricades and taunted police. Chants of "murderer" could be heard. |
| Police responded with smoke and tear gas. | Police responded with smoke and tear gas. |
| One protester, Charles Miller, told the BBC that while he did not advocate violence, he understood why people were angry. | |
| "You can't just go shoot an 18-year-old who's unarmed on the street, despite what the story may have been," he said. | |
| "He was unarmed and you are an armed law enforcement officer who's been trained in combat. So I think people are rightfully upset." | |
| After the situation calmed down, he added, he hoped there would be an "opportunity to really grow and change a lot of things, and make sure [Michael Brown's] death didn't mean nothing". | |
| 'Heart and soul' | 'Heart and soul' |
| Explaining the jurors' decision, state prosecutor Robert McCulloch said their job had been to separate fact from fiction, and that some witness statements had been contradicted by physical evidence. | |
| "These grand jurors poured their hearts and soul into this process," he said. | "These grand jurors poured their hearts and soul into this process," he said. |
| Protesters have been chanting, "Hands up, don't shoot" - a reference to statements by some witnesses who said Mr Brown had had his hands up in apparent surrender to the officer when he was shot. | Protesters have been chanting, "Hands up, don't shoot" - a reference to statements by some witnesses who said Mr Brown had had his hands up in apparent surrender to the officer when he was shot. |
| Police say there was a struggle between the teenager and the officer before the shooting. | Police say there was a struggle between the teenager and the officer before the shooting. |
| In his own testimony, Mr Wilson says that before the shooting Mr Brown pushed him back into his car, hit him and briefly grabbed his drawn gun. | In his own testimony, Mr Wilson says that before the shooting Mr Brown pushed him back into his car, hit him and briefly grabbed his drawn gun. |
| The jury was made up of 12 randomly picked citizens - nine white and three black. | The jury was made up of 12 randomly picked citizens - nine white and three black. |
| At least nine votes were needed in order to issue an indictment. | At least nine votes were needed in order to issue an indictment. |
| Are you in Ferguson? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | |
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