Mirror man told 'leave now or you'll be dead' as 150 shots fired during protests

 

A Daily Mirror reporter was today issued with a chilling death threat as violent riots took place in America over the decision not to charge a white cop who killed a black teenager.

Violence erupted in Ferguson following the decision not to charge officer Darren Wilson over teenager Michael Brown's death.
The Mirror witnessed first hand the looting, violence, gunfire, arson and attacks that left the Missouri city looking like a war zone.
As gangs of youths took to the streets armed with guns, knives and explosives, the Mirror's US Editor Christopher Bucktin was given a chilling warning.
A rioter said:  "Leave now or you'll be joining Mike - dead. If our bullets don't get you, our bricks will"

Jae Donnelly / Daily Mirror

Protests: The Mirror's US Editor Chris Bucktin gets emergency treatment after being caught in tear gas fire

 Within seconds he was targeted by rampaging protesters armed with an arsenal of rocks.
Christopher said: "The barrage only stopped when we were teared gassed by heavily armed riot police threatening us with arrest.
"Once again caught up in the thick of the violence the fumes this time were so bad medics were called in to treat those who had become victims of the police's canisters.
"As the night wore on we watched as the Little Caesar restaurant was raised to the ground, a gun was fired near the scene of Brown's killing, a gang of up to 20 looters broke in to a beauty salon as well a police cars being set on fire."

Jae Donnelly / Daily Mirror

Worrying: Chris Bucktin was given a chilling death threat while covering the protest

 The decision not to charge Missouri cop Darren Wilson was greeted with violence and looting in Ferguson where the teenager was shot while elsewhere in the States trouble threatened to erupt in several major cities.
Within an hour after it was revealed a grand jury had ruled not to indite the officer protesters screaming “no justice, no peace” began attacking armed police.
As the crowd of more than 1,000 people gathered outside the Ferguson Police headquarters youths wearing masks, balaclavas and bandannas took out their frustration with violence.
Throwing rocks and lighting fireworks at the lines of armoured police they were met with volley after volley of tear gas.

Jae Donnelly / Daily Mirror

Little Caesars restaurant being put out by Firefighters in Ferguson, Missouri

 As angry mob was dispersed, gangs of youths took to cars as they spread their violence across the beleaguered city.
Many businesses were set on fire including a beauty supply warehouse, several restaurants as well as a ca lot.
At one point heavy gunfire broke out close to where Brown was shot dead by Wilson in August.
It was not clear who fired the shots, but there were no initial reports of anybody being wounded.
Several police cars were also torched with angry protesters screaming “I’m going to burn this bitch down and “Let’s shut this s--- down.”
As police moved in to try and quell the violence tense protests took place throughout America including New York, Los Angeles and Seattle.
Earlier prosecuting Attorney Robert  McCulloch said the jury of nine whites and three black jurors had met on 25 separate days hearing more than 70 hours of testimony from about 60 witnesses.

Reuters

Anger: Protesters shout slogans as they march on the street during a rally in New York

He added the jury were “the only people who heard every witness and every piece of evidence” but made clear many witnesses presented conflicting statements that were inconsistent with the physical evidence.
He said the official investigation in to the 18-year-old’s death found Wilson shot Brown to death as the 6ft 4ins teenager walked towards him.
The evidence was at odds to what others had said saying Brown was walking away with his hands up when the fatal shots were fired.
The jury, made up of seven men and five women decided not to bring up any the possible charges against Wilson, which included first-degree murder, second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, and involuntary manslaughter.

Getty

Destruction: Police officers in riot gear stand in front of a burning building in Ferguson

As McCulloch delivered his statement Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden, was listening to a broadcast of the announcement.
She put her face in her hands and sobbed violently. 
Just moments before she had said: “This is wrong
"Everybody want me to be calm but you know how them bullets hit my son.