Riot Erupts After Police Shooting in St. Petersburg

A rock- and bottle-throwing crowd of several hundred people set fire to businesses and vehicles after police shot and killed a man during a traffic stop Thursday evening. At least 11 people were injured, including two police officers.

The riot involved more than 200 people and continued to rage late Thursday night even as more than 300 state and local police officers carrying plastic shields and other riot gear tried to contain the violence.

At least several dozen fires burned out of control late Thursday night, including a police substation, a furniture store and other businesses and homes, while the violence kept firefighters from the scene.

“I think there’s still young folk that are going to encourage each other to keep this up until daylight,” said St. Petersburg Police Maj. Gary Hitchcox.

Thick smoke clouded the barricaded area, about 25 square blocks in a predominantly black neighborhood just south of downtown. Groups of youths ran back and forth in the night, aiming rocks at the officers as well as at businesses and passing cars.

“It’s just utter chaos,” a police dispatcher said.

The White House expressed immediate concern about the riot.

“We’re making inquiries of local officials for an assessment of the situation,” White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry said from New Orleans, where he was on a campaign trip with President Clinton.

Three hospitals near downtown treated and released 11 people with minor injuries, including two police officers. A dispatcher said one officer was shot in the arm, but the wound wasn’t serious.

The shooting that sparked the violence happened after two officers stopped a car with two people inside about 5:30 p.m. EDT, Tampa, Fla., television station WTVT reported. The car lurched forward, hitting one of the officers, and the officers opened fire, striking the driver of the car, the station reported.

The unidentified man died before reaching Bayfront Medical Center, a hospital spokesman said.

Hundreds of people in the neighborhood began gathering, some shouting and throwing things at officers. As night fell hundreds of people took to the streets to confront police, and the violence quickly escalated.