The city of Minneapolis woke up on Thursday to smoke and widespread damage in its southern districts after a night of rioting over the death of George Floyd, a black man pinned down by a white police officer.
The area around the Third Precinct police headquarters became the focus of anger, with shops and building sites set ablaze, looting and clashes with police.
The mass outpouring of anger marks the third day of protests as people demand justice for the death of Floyd, 46.
The man’s family have called for the Minneapolis officers, now dismissed from the force, to be charged with murder.
One fatal shooting was reported near the protests area but the details remain unclear.
The protests continued as the Justice Department announced the investigation into Floyd’s death was a “top priority.”
He died on Monday after being detained by officers and pinned to the ground.
In a video shot by a witness, one officer presses his knee into Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes, even as he pleaded, “I can’t breathe.”
The incident renewed accusations of police racism and sparked protests in Minneapolis and Los Angeles this week.
Under pressure, the Minneapolis Police Department fired the four officers involved in Floyd’s arrest, but that was not enough for the family.
“I would like for those officers to be charged with murder because that’s exactly what they did,” the victim's sister, Bridget Floyd, told NBC.
The cause of death has not been revealed and the Minneapolis police have so far not released bodycam footage of the arrest.
The incident has rekindled anger, especially in the African-American community, of racism and police brutality against black men.
