Tensions flared in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, MO, on August 9 after a seemingly unarmed black teenager was shot dead by a police officer.  Michael Brown, 18, was shot at least six times, including twice in the head, by white officer Darren Wilson. Protesters from across the nation have gathered in Missouri to protest the killing. Also, police have now been subject to gunfire, and also been injured by rocks and bottles that were thrown at them. The National Guard was called in to keep control of things for the first time since the Los Angeles riots in 1992. Witnesses say that Brown was shot while trying to flee from police, while police say that Brown attacked Wilson and was shot in self-defense.

When police revealed footage Friday that showed Brown shoplifting just before he died, riots flared as protesters believed that the police were trying to show Brown as a criminal. Meanwhile, tear gas, smoke bombs, stun grenades, rubber bullets, wooden baton rounds, and beanbag shells are being shot at protesters from helicopters and SWAT trucks, this while protesters hurl stones and bottles as well as throw tear gas canisters back at police. One group of protesters was rumored to have been sitting on top of a building shooting at police.

When asked about the shooting in Ferguson, Teacher Arthur Walton said, “[It’s] terrible that it occurred [and] that the situation has to be as it is.”

Sophomore Clay Wilson believes that the shooting of Mr. Brown was, “tragic, but I doubt it was a hate crime.” Clay also believes that “the behavior of the protesters is out of control. There are other ways to express anger for that. I can’t believe [the protests] have been going on for a week. Both the protesters and the police should calm down.” Clay Wilson also shared with me that his cousin, a reporter who is in Ferguson covering the protests, was tear gassed even though she was not protesting, and her colleague was arrested.

Sophomore Emilio de la Mora said,”[the shooting] was tragic.” When asked who was in the wrong, he answered, “the police .” However, he also believes that the protesters are behaving poorly.