Riots, Looting and Lawlessness Hit Baltimore following Funeral of Freddie Gray (VIDEO) (Update: Police Injured, Senior Center Burned to the Ground)

RIOTS AND LOOTING ROCK BALTIMORE …

Following the events in Baltimore, MD over the weekend, it was not hard to predict what would happen on Monday following the funeral of Freddie Gray, unless you were the Mayor of Baltimore. Just hours after the funeral of 25 year old Freddie Gray, who died in police custody after suffering a spinal cord injury, all hell broke loose in Baltimore. The so-called peaceful protests turned into lawlessness, rioting, looting and violence Monday afternoon and into the night as stores were burned and looted, bottles, bricks and stones were thrown at the police, injuring at least 15 police officers.

The VIDEO below shows the looting and eventual burning of the CVS store in West Baltimore. So this was justified by the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody that is being investigated. Hardly, some thugs just needed the excuse. Tell me, why would CVS ever want to rebuild this store? How about the mom and pop stores that were trashed and burned, who probably lost their livelihoods.

CVS Pharmacy Looted

Violence swept through pockets of a low-income section of West Baltimore on Monday afternoon as scores of rioters heaved bottles and rocks at riot-gear-clad police, set police cars on fire, and looted a pharmacy, a mall and other businesses. At least 15 officers were injured.

Images of the violence were broadcast nationwide just hours after Freddie Gray was eulogized at his funeral, and Gray’s family and clergy members called for calm. Gray died of an injury he suffered while in police custody.

The rioting did not appear to stem from any organized protests over Gray’s death.

Police from surrounding communities were called in to help. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) declared a state of emergency in the city and activated the National Guard. The troops were in Baltimore before midnight.

The officers were injured — some with broken bones and at least one rendered unconscious — shortly after the violence began about 3 p.m. Two officers remained hospitalized late Monday; they had been hit with items thrown mostly by school-age youths, police said. Officers in full riot gear were pelted with rocks and bottles as they moved in to arrest some of the dozens of young people who had assaulted them.

Mobs destroyed police cars, started several small fires, and invaded a check-cashing agency and sought to break into its ATM. Looters carried off armloads of merchandise from liquor stores and a CVS pharmacy at Pennsylvania and North avenues that also was set ablaze. By nightfall, 27 people had been arrested.

Take a good look at what happens when you have a complete and lack of leadership

(Warning – adult language)

UPDATE I: Riots erupt across West Baltimore, downtown.

Violence and looting overtook much of West Baltimore on Monday, injuring more than a dozen police officers and leaving buildings and vehicles in flames.

As night fell, looters took to Mondawmin Mall and a Save-A-Lot and Rite Aid in Bolton Hill, loading up cars with stolen goods. About 10 fire crews battled a three-alarm fire at a large senior center under construction at Chester and Gay streets, as police officers stood guard with long guns.

About 10 p.m., police confirmed shots were fired at an officer in the area of Virginia Avenue and Reisterstown Road in Northwest Baltimore. The officer was not hit and the suspect fled.

Fifteen police officers were injured in a clash with school-age children that began around 3 p.m., and two remain hospitalized, police Col. Darryl DeSousa said in a press conference Monday night. Earlier, police spokesman Capt. Eric Kowalczyk said one officer was unresponsive and others suffered broken bones.

Police arrested 27 people, DeSousa said.

UPDATE II: Senior Center Built by Baptist Church Up in Flames in Baltimore Riots.