'There is no honour': Teen killed at George Floyd protests as US leaders call for calm
A teenager has died after a shooter opened fire into a crowd of people protesting George Floyd’s death.
The shooting occurred about 11.30pm (local time) Friday near Detroit's Greektown entertainment district as officers were confronted with dozens of protesters, police department spokeswoman Sergeant Nicole Kirkwood said. She said an officer wasn't involved in the shooting.
Sgt Kirkwood said the victim was a 19-year-old man who was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The suspect pulled up in a Dodge Durango SUV and fired shots into the crowd, she said.
No details about the victim or the person who fired the shot or shots were immediately available, Sgt Kirkwood said.
Meanwhile in Minneapolis thousands of protesters ignored a curfew and vows of a forceful police response and took to the streets for a fourth straight night as the anger stoked by the death of Mr Floyd, a black man, in police custody spread to more cities across the US.
Criminal charges filed on Friday morning (local time) against the white officer who held his knee for nearly nine minutes on the neck of Mr Floyd did nothing to stem the anger. Derek Chauvin, 44, was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, along with Minnesota governor Tim Walz, urged rioters to go home on early Saturday morning (local time).
“We as a city are so much more than this, we as a city can be so much better than this,” he said.
“There is no honour in burning down your city, there is no pride in looting local businesses that have become institutions of a neighbourhood.”
Mr Frey added: “You’re not getting back at the police officer that tragically killed George Floyd by looting a town.
“If you have a friend or a family member that is out right now, call them, tell them to come home.
“It is not safe, it is not right. If we care about our city, let’s do the right thing now.”
Mr Walz also confirmed he had heard of unconfirmed reports about white supremacists capitalising on the chaotic nature of the protests and looting after being asked by a reporter if he was aware of the allegations.
“My suspicions and what I've seen on this, yes,” he said, according to NBC News.
“It gets worse than that.
"The cartels, who are wondering if there was a break in their drug transmissions, are trying to take advantage of the chaos. That's why this situation is on a federal level.”
Mr Walz added they were investigating these reports.
We have a long night ahead of us in Brooklyn. Our sole focus is deescalating this situation and getting people home safe. There will be a full review of what happened tonight. We don’t ever want to see another night like this.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) May 30, 2020
‘You are disgracing our city,’ Atlanta mayor declares
Meanwhile Georgia's governor declared a state of emergency to activate the state National Guard as violence flared in Atlanta and in dozens of cities nationwide following Mr Floyd’s death.
Another 500 Guard soldiers were mobilised in Minneapolis and surrounding cities.
The Guard was also on standby in the District of Columbia, where a crowd grew outside the White House and chanted curses at US President Donald Trump.
Some protesters tried to push through barriers set up by the US Secret Service along Pennsylvania Avenue, and threw bottles and other objects at officers wearing riot gear, who responded with pepper spray.
In Portland, Oregon, protesters broke into police headquarters on Friday night and authorities said they lit a fire inside.
In Virginia's capital, a police cruiser was set on fire outside Richmond police headquarters, and a city transit spokeswoman said a bus set ablaze was "a total loss”, US news outlets reported.
“You are disgracing our city,” Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told protesters.
“You are disgracing the life of George Floyd and every other person who has been killed in this country.”
Chaos has also erupted in New York, where protesters also clashed with officers and a video showed a police van on fire.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio took to Twitter, saying: “We have a long night ahead of us in Brooklyn. Our sole focus is deescalating this situation and getting people home safe.
“There will be a full review of what happened tonight. We don’t ever want to see another night like this.”
With AP
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