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As Freddie Gray Is Put To Rest, Youth Clash With Police In Baltimore

Matt Vespa
Matt Vespa  |  April 27, 2015 4:10 PM

UPDATE: Signing off for the night. We'll pick this story up again in the morning. I'll leave you with this:

UPDATE: Well said.

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UPDATE: Now that church centers are being burned to the ground, this is probably for the best:

UPDATE: The blame-game begins.

UPDATE: This just in. Former Baltimore Mayor and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley is flying home from Europe after hearing the news.

UPDATE: This isn't helping things.

During press conference, Baltimore Mayor didn't express any support for police, blamed media, & invited Al Sharpton to come. Sigh.

— Brad Dayspring (@BDayspring) April 28, 2015

UPDATE: Gov. Larry Hogan has declared a state of emergency at the request of Baltimore City (via Office of Governor Larry Hogan):

Governor Larry Hogan today, at the request of Baltimore City, has signed an Executive Order declaring a state of emergency and activating the National Guard to address the growing violence and unrest in Baltimore City.

UPDATE: Gov. Larry Hogan releases statement on the Baltimore unrest, says National Guard is on alert.

UPDATE: No formal requests to deploy the National Guard, according to Gov. Larry Hogan.

UPDATE: Capt. Eric Kowalczyk of the Baltimore Police Department addressed held a press conference at 4:30pm and said "a group of outrageous criminals attacked our officers."  He called the perpetrators "a group of lawless individuals with no regard for the safety of the people that live in that community."

UPDATE: Wow.

**Original Post**

Freddie Gray died in police custody after suffering a spinal injury in Baltimore earlier this month.  He was arrested after a "foot pursuit," according to CNN. He was not securely fastened by a seatbelt while being transported in a police van, nor did he receive immediate medical attention. His death sparked outrage, and added to the ongoing dialogue regarding community relations with the police.  Over the weekend, some rioting broke out Saturday, with Camden Yards being locked down due to safety concerns. As Gray was laid to rest today, “a large group of juveniles” clashed with police around 3pm this afternoon. Several officers have been injured, some with broken bones, as objects have been hurled at police by rioters (via Baltimore Sun):

Smoke filled the air as police responded with shields and a tactical vehicle. Demonstrators pelted officers with rocks, bricks and bottles, and assaulted a photojournalist. Several officers were injured in the melee, police said via Twitter.

"The group continues to be violent and aggressive. They are disobeying dispersal orders. We are working to evacuate our injured officers," police said on Twitter.

Lexington Market, a city courthouse and businesses including T. Rowe Price and Venable LLP said police warned them of large gatherings and protests downtown, days after protests over the death of Freddie Gray turned destructive.

According to a widely circulated flier, a high school "purge" was to take place at 3 p.m., starting at Mondawmin Mall and ending downtown. Such memes have been known to circulate regularly among city school students, based on a film "The Purge," about what would happen if all laws were suspended.

The flier included an image of protesters smashing the windshield of a police car Saturday during a march spurred by the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old man who suffered a spinal cord injury earlier this month after being arrested by city police.

Mondawmin Mall closed at 1 p.m. ahead of the incident. The mall's Metro stop also closed.

A post on the University of Maryland Baltimore's website said it was closing early based on a recommendation from city police. The campus will also stop shuttle service.

Katie reported earlier today that there was a "credible threat" that police would be targeted by various gangs.

LIVESTREAM: via --> WBAL

UPDATE: There are reports of looting.

UPDATE: Police car has been set aflame.

UPDATE: Gray family called for peace today as they laid him to rest

UPDATE: Several police officers have been injured.

UPDATE: Police from Prince George's and Montgomery counties are heading into the city to reinforce Baltimore Police.

UPDATE: Police say juveniles are in this crowd and they're asking parents to help them bring their kids home.