1 Dead After Minnesota Protestester Ransacks Police Stations, Loots Stores
Violence continued to intensify as a group of Minnesota protesters wreaked havoc over the death of 46-year-old George Floyd. For two straight days, the group had brutally ransacked police stations, looted a Target store, and had even set a building on fire. During the entire riot, one man was killed in a shooting.
Initially, the protesters gathered at the 3rd Precinct, where the four policemen worked. The group began to vandalize the city’s police station, hurled stones, broke windows, and even destroyed squad cars despite the heavy police presence. Officers threw in tear gas in an attempt to disperse the angry crowd.
After staying peaceful for hours, protestors have started vandalizing 3rd Precinct. @MPRnews pic.twitter.com/CdySTM5Sp4
— christine nguyen (@xinewin) May 27, 2020
The 3rd precinct is being destroyed pic.twitter.com/ZuvhSJu8sW
— Karen Scullin FOX9 (@kscullinfox9) May 27, 2020
RAW VIDEO: Protesters inside Minneapolis Police's 3rd Precinct parking lot smashing squad cars, before officers show up and fire flash grenades inside to get them to disperse. WARNING: This video contains violence and strong language. READ MORE: https://t.co/HZTamsXTCN pic.twitter.com/Cktz07ftSg
— WCCO - CBS Minnesota (@WCCO) May 27, 2020
In Los Angeles, members of the “Black Lives Matter” movement tried to block off the 101 Freeway near Union Station, where they shut down the traffic in downtown Los Angeles. Based on the social media footage, some of the demonstrators began to attack a CHP cruiser by breaking its windows and hoods. As the car began to accelerate, some of the protesters were seen clinging into its hood. Later, police officers arrived in their bicycles to manage the situation.
protesters confronting CHP cruisers on the 101 freeway in Downtown Los Angeles. The protester who falls off the moving vehicle was taken by ambulance and later seen with head bandages, standing and talking to authorities. #GeorgeFloyd #losangeles #BlackLivesMatters pic.twitter.com/pksGL0mu8G
— MarlaTellez (@MarlaTellez) May 28, 2020
#BREAKING - #LosAngeles #BlackLivesMatter protest turns violent as hundreds occupy the 101 freeway and demonstrators attack two CHP patrol cars. One protester was injured while attempting to ride on the hood of the officer’s vehicle. #air7hd @abc7 #abc7eyewitness #georgefloyd pic.twitter.com/FtDa0kozCd
— Chris Cristi (@abc7chriscristi) May 28, 2020
Moreover, firefighters responded to a nearby Auto Zone after the store was set on fire.
The Auto Zone is on Fire pic.twitter.com/2IJHx4AKdt
— Ricardo Lopez (@rljourno) May 28, 2020
Back in Minnesota, the situation continued to escalate as people broke into a Target store on Lake Street. Looters broke store doors and windows. Dozens of people wheeled away carts of groceries, while others stacked on numerous television and appliance sets.
Target is getting cleaned out pic.twitter.com/0OGSHY132k
— Karen Scullin FOX9 (@kscullinfox9) May 27, 2020
Target is getting cleaned out pic.twitter.com/0OGSHY132k
— Karen Scullin FOX9 (@kscullinfox9) May 27, 2020
Target is being looted pic.twitter.com/GCGteCG8gV
— Karen Scullin FOX9 (@kscullinfox9) May 27, 2020
Some found their way to the store’s back door, yelling “free food!” as vandals were sprayed all over the store’s walls.
Now entering through the back door. Yells of “Free food!” pic.twitter.com/z3728Z6G5J
— Ricardo Lopez (@rljourno) May 28, 2020
The store was entirely cleaned out, as protesters tried to break into the cash registers.
The inside of the Target is smoky; people are trying to break into the cash registers. Alarm is blaring pic.twitter.com/qfd97sfNTr
— Ricardo Lopez (@rljourno) May 28, 2020
Target is being looted pic.twitter.com/GCGteCG8gV
— Karen Scullin FOX9 (@kscullinfox9) May 27, 2020
In a report from ABC 5, others have also tried to steal from a local liquor and tobacco store, Dollar Tree. However, the riots seemed to be far from over. On Wednesday night, protesters burned several establishments, including a “half-built” building across Target.
The half-built building across from Target is ablaze. "Be careful in that building," someone yells after a group of people that just went inside, "that's more than just wood burning in there." pic.twitter.com/XxJspzBoFD
— Libor Jany (@StribJany) May 28, 2020
The demonstrators also burned down another grocery chain, Cub Food.
Smoke coming from Cub: pic.twitter.com/IcA52LpuNu
— Libor Jany (@StribJany) May 28, 2020
Local reports cite that one was dead and another in custody after a shooting took place during the riots. On Wednesday night, police arrived on the scene to find the man in a critical condition on the sidewalk. He was taken to the Hennepin County Medical Center but had died a few hours after.
The riots broke out after Floyd was forcefully handcuffed and pinned to the ground by four Minnesota Police officers. One of the officers, Derek Chauvin, had kneeled on the victim’s neck despite repeated pleas from Floyd and other bystanders.