Peaceful protests against police brutality and the presence of federal agents in the protests turned violent when police in several large cities across the country declared riots, and a protester in Austin died in a shooting that erupted over a weekend of civil unrest.
A Black Lives Matter protester was shot dead just before 10 p.m. Saturday during a march in downtown Austin, police said.
While police initially said the protester, identified as Garrett Foster, was armed when he approached a car occupied by a man who killed him, Foster’s mother questioned the account during an interview on Sunday in “Good Morning America.” From ABC.
Sheila Foster said her son was pushing his fiancee’s wheelchair when he was shot.
“And this gentleman got out of his car and started shooting, and my son was shot three times,” said the mother.
The shooting, which was captured on cell phone video, caused protesters to run and take cover.
Police said the alleged gunman was captured and was being interviewed by investigators. The alleged name of the gunman has not been released.
Deadly violence occurred as protests across the country went from peaceful to chaotic.
Oregon
Portland, Oregon police said a demonstration turned into a “riot” early Sunday morning when protesters violated a reinforced fence around the United States Mark O. Hatfield Courthouse in downtown Portland. Federal agents guarding the building deployed tear gas against the protesters, who authorities say fired projectiles and fireworks at the officers.
It was the 59th consecutive day of protests in Portland, and protesters accused federal agents of inflaming the violence by using questionable tactics to stop protesters and disperse crowds.
President Donald Trump has threatened to send federal agents to more cities to restore order.
More than 100 miles away in Eugene, Oregon, police also declared a “riot” when members of the Black Lives Matter, protesting in solidarity with their Portland counterparts, clashed with protesters waving American flags and signs saying “All Lives Matter,” according to police. .
Police said they moved to quell the protests when acts of vandalism occurred in businesses, including a Whole Foods store, and officers witnessed and arrested a man who allegedly fired a weapon into the air. Stones and other objects were also thrown at the police, authorities said.
At least eight other people, including a minor, were arrested on suspicion of riots in Eugene, police said.
California
In Oakland, California, a peaceful march through the city streets to show support for the ongoing protests in Portland erupted into violence on Saturday night.
The Oakland Police Department tweeted that some agitators among the approximately 700 peaceful protesters tore apart a police station by breaking windows, spraying walls and firing fireworks. Police authorities said several small fires occurred throughout the city, including one in the Alameda County Superior Court.
Police said several arrests were made.
Washington
In Seattle, officials said 59 police officers were injured Saturday in clashes with protesters and 47 arrests were made.
Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best said at a press conference Saturday night that the protests were mostly peaceful until dusk, when some agitators began throwing stones and explosives at police. Best said an agent was hospitalized with a leg injury caused by an explosive.
Earlier in the day, a dozen people set fire to portable trailers during a protest at the construction site of the new King County Juvenile Detention Center, police said. Authorities also said car windows and some businesses were smashed near downtown Seattle when groups of protesters marched through the area.
Police said they were also investigating an explosion that damaged the facade of the police department’s East Precinct.
“There, several people left the group and began spray painting and attempting to disable security cameras and a fenced perimeter around the compound. At least one person broke the fence line of the compound. Moments later, a device exploded leaving a 8-inch hole in the side of the enclosure, “police said in a statement.
By 10 p.m. Saturday, police had made 45 arrests, authorities said.
Virginia
The police department in Richmond, Virginia, meanwhile, declared an illegal assembly Saturday night after more violence erupted there.
A rally announced as “Richmond meets Portland” started with a peaceful march, but turned rebellious when protesters made their way to the Richmond police headquarters, authorities said.
Before arriving at the police headquarters, police said some in a group of mostly peaceful protesters set fire, smashed windows, and painted graffiti on buildings. Some damage was done to the Virginia Commonwealth University buildings, police said.
Just after 11 p.m. Saturday, police tweeted “disperse or face arrest” as they addressed protesters outside the police headquarters. Police posted images of rocks, batteries and other shells on Twitter, which they said were thrown at officers stationed outside the headquarters that “prompted an illegal declaration by the Assembly.”
A city garbage truck parked near the police headquarters was also set on fire, according to police.
Virginia state police said their soldiers were helping to protect the police department headquarters when several people among the protesters shot down the police tape and advanced by aiming with lasers and firing firecrackers.
Police said tear gas was used to disperse the crowd outside the headquarters.
Four men were arrested and charged with illegal gathering, police said. A 29-year-old man from Richmond was also arrested and charged with rioting with a firearm, while a 28-year-old man from Hopewell, Virginia, was arrested on suspicion of assault on a law enforcement officer and riots, according to police. . .
ABC News’ Ahmad Hemingway and Alexandra Faul contributed to this report.
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