Home News Charm City Burns: A full breakdown of events

Charm City Burns: A full breakdown of events

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Starting with the end of the Freddie Gray funeral today, below is a complete breakdown of events to this point.

Per the AP:

1:45 p.m.

The funeral for Freddie Gray has ended after a service of nearly two hours.

The dignitaries attending included long-time activist Dick Gregory, former Maryland representative and NAACP leader Kweisi Mfume and current Maryland Rep. John Sarbanes.

The casket was rolled out of the church with the family following behind. Within minutes, the entire church was empty, leaving the musicians to play a rousing processional.

As people left, there was an image of Gray projected on the screens flanking the altar. It showed him wearing a striped polo shirt, baseball cap, pants and sneakers. The front of the program read, “Loving Memory, Freddie Carlos Gray Jr.”

Gray died of a mysterious spinal injury he suffered while in police custody.

The NAACP says it’s opening a satellite office in Freddie Gray’s Baltimore neighborhood, known as Sandtown.

In a statement on the organization’s Facebook page, the NAACP said its police reform action in Baltimore dates back to the 1980s, and has involved targeting racial profiling cases. The NAACP said it also filed legal action involving traffic stops targeting black people and another one involving a high rate of incarceration of black people in the city.

The satellite office in Gray’s neighborhood will include legal support from the national office, the NAACP said.

It’s unclear when the office will open.

 

2 p.m.

The University of Maryland campus in downtown Baltimore shut down its campus at 2 p.m., saying it has been warned by the Baltimore Police Department that “activities” in the area may turn violent.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the activities had anything to do with Freddie Gray, who died of a spinal injury while in police custody. Demonstrators angry over Gray’s death have become violent at times.

In an alert to students and staff, the university says “the safety of our students and employees is of paramount importance. Please vacate the campus as soon as possible.”

School spokesman Alex Likowski said he didn’t know what type of activity might be passing through campus or what prompted the warning from police.

The university’s main campus is in College Park, about 30 miles south of Baltimore.

 

Firefighters prepare to put out a fire at a store, Monday, April 27, 2015, during unrest following the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. Gray died from spinal injuries about a week after he was arrested and transported in a Baltimore Police Department van. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Firefighters prepare to put out a fire at a store, Monday, April 27, 2015, during unrest following the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. Gray died from spinal injuries about a week after he was arrested and transported in a Baltimore Police Department van. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

 

3:30 p.m.

Numerous police officers in riot gear have responded to a mall in northwest Baltimore and the mall is closed.

Images broadcast by WJZ-TV show a line of officers with helmets and face shields blocking off the mall’s parking lot. Some people were throwing objects at officers and a police armored vehicle.

It’s not immediately clear if the response was related to a Freddie Gray protest. One man held his arms up as the police moved toward him, an action that has been repeated throughout the Gray rallies.

 

4 p.m.

People are throwing rocks and bricks at police in riot gear near a Baltimore mall.

Dozens of people were throwing objects at police, just hours after the funeral for Freddie Gray.

Gray died of a mysterious spinal injury while in police custody. Baltimore police say on Twitter that a few officers have been hurt in the chaos.

Officers are advancing on the crowd, and at times retreating when the objects are thrown.

 

4:15 p.m.

Hundreds of youths outside a mall in northwest Baltimore are clashing violently with police in riot gear, throwing rocks, bricks and bottles at the officers.

Baltimore police say on Twitter that several officers have been injured. Officers are using pepper-spray to keep the protesters back.

A flier circulated on social media called for a period of violence Monday afternoon to begin at the Mondawmin Mall and move downtown toward City Hall.

Earlier in the day, thousands gathered for Freddie Gray’s funeral. Gray died of an unexplained spinal injury while in police custody.

Outside the mall, a young person threw a flaming trash can at the line of officers, igniting a patch of grass nearby.

Police said at least one officer was injured after being hit by a flying brick.

A man carries items from a store as police vehicles burn, Monday, April 27, 2015, after the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. Gray died from spinal injuries about a week after he was arrested and transported in a Baltimore Police Department van. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
A man carries items from a store as police vehicles burn, Monday, April 27, 2015, after the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. Gray died from spinal injuries about a week after he was arrested and transported in a Baltimore Police Department van. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

4:45 p.m.

Police say at least seven officers have been injured in a violent clash with a large group of youths.

Capt. Eric Kowalczyk (koh-wall-check) said one officer is unresponsive and others have broken bones after people threw bricks, rocks and other items at police.

The clash started near the Mondawmin Mall and spread out over a wide area as a line of police officers pushed them back.

In a series of Tweets, police said they are hearing reports of groups setting fires around the area. Earlier, a photographer was shoved and kicked in the back.

At one point, a police car was surrounded and destroyed by people jumping on it. As officers arrived, one person was taken into custody.

 

5 p.m.

A drug store is being looted in Baltimore as police and a large group of people violently clash.

Television images show a CVS being overrun and people running out with items. Police have not responded yet.

The rioters have been throwing rocks, bricks and other items at police, injuring at least seven of them. A police car was set on fire.

Smoke billows from a CVS Pharmacy store in  Baltimore on Monday, April 27, 2015. Demonstrators clashed with police after the funeral of Freddie Gray. Gray died from spinal injuries about a week after he was arrested and transported in a Baltimore Police Department van. (AP Photo/Juliet Linderman)
Smoke billows from a CVS Pharmacy store in Baltimore on Monday, April 27, 2015. Demonstrators clashed with police after the funeral of Freddie Gray. Gray died from spinal injuries about a week after he was arrested and transported in a Baltimore Police Department van. (AP Photo/Juliet Linderman)

 

5:15 p.m.

Groups of youths are looting a convenience store near downtown Baltimore.

They busted out the window of the closed businesses, and piled in. Police in riot gear began forming a line nearby.

A helicopter circled overhead as groups of roving youths moved through the city. Television footage showed one group of demonstrators pile on top of and ride a car as it drove in the street.

 

5:35 p.m.

Police are urging parents to locate their children and bring them home after youths clashed violently with police in Baltimore.

Baltimore police made the announcement on its Twitter feed. A group of youths threw bricks, rocks and other items at police during a violent clash hours after the funeral of Freddie Gray. At least seven police officers were injured.

A lot of the youths clashing with police had backpacks and were wearing khaki pants, which are a part of many Baltimore public school uniforms.

The activity broke out just as high school let out, and at a key city bus depot for student commuters.

Gray died April 19. He suffered injuries in police custody. Authorities are investigating.

 

5:55 p.m.

Protesters are looting a check-cashing business and other stores in Baltimore, busting through the windows and climbing inside to take items.

Cars have been lit on fire and a large group of youths threw rocks, bricks and other items at police. As people arrived home from work, some yelled at the youths to stop causing trouble.

“I never thought I’d see something like this happen in my neighborhood,” said Ted Bushrod, 32, who’s lived in the area all his life.

Bushrod, who said his father died in an officer-involved shooting involving the Baltimore Police Department, criticized the violence.

“It’s disappointing. I understand the kids’ frustration. We go through this every day,” he added, referring to black people being targeted for their race in Baltimore.

Freddie Gray, who is black, died after he suffered injuries while in police custody.

 

6:05 p.m.

An attorney for the family of Freddie Gray says they are in shock watching the violence in Baltimore.

Hours after Gray’s funeral, a large group of youths had a standoff with police, throwing bricks, bottles and other items at officers. Several stores have been looted and cars have been set on fire.

Gray family attorney Billy Murphy said the family is urging for calm.

“They don’t want this movement nationally to be marred by violence,” he said. “It makes no sense.”

Murphy said Gray’s family is lying low Monday night. Gray died after suffering critical injuries in police custody.

 

6:30 p.m.

The governor of Maryland says the National Guard is on alert and may deploy to help police with the looting and violence in Baltimore.

Gov. Larry Hogan says he wants the Guard on alert so they can deploy rapidly as needed. The governor readied the Guard as rioters set fire to cars and a business and looters raided several stores.

At least seven officers have been injured in chaos.

The Orioles game in Baltimore has been postponed because of safety concerns.

The scoreboard announces that the baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago White Sox is postponed, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Monday, April 27, 2015, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
The scoreboard announces that the baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago White Sox is postponed, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Monday, April 27, 2015, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

 

6:35

President Barack Obama is pledging the federal government’s help to respond to riots that have broken out in Baltimore following the funeral of Freddie Gray.

The White House says the Baltimore mayor updated Obama on the situation and that Obama told her his administration would provide assistance as needed.

The White House says Obama also discussed the rioting with Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who was sworn in hours earlier.

Obama and Lynch met in the Oval Office while violent scenes of rioting in Baltimore played out on television. Gray died April 19 after suffering a mysterious spinal injury while in police custody. The Justice Department and local authorities are investigating.

 

6:45 p.m.

A pharmacy that has been looted in the Baltimore riots is on fire and police are trying to keep people back as firefighters battle the blaze.

Smoke is pouring out of the CVS pharmacy, which is about 1.5 miles from downtown Baltimore. Some people cut holes in a hose that firefighters were using.

Nearby, liquor stores were busted open and being looted. People were in the streets drinking while police stood still nearby.

The riot started just hours after Freddie Gray’s funeral. Gray died after suffering injuries in police custody.

 

7 p.m.

Maryland’s two senators are faulting a few in Baltimore for the violent protests, looting and clashes with police.

“This is terrible,” Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski told reporters in the U.S. Capitol Monday night. The five-term senator and Baltimore resident said about 300 students primarily from one high school acted out and showed “disrespect toward Freddie Gray.” Mikulski said some 85,000 school children went home and were not involved.

Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin said their “immediate concern is to restore the peace in Baltimore.”

The two lawmakers said they are awaiting the independent, civil rights investigation by the Justice Department into Gray’s death.

 

7:05 p.m.

The governor of Maryland has declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard to help with the violence and rioting in Baltimore.

Gov. Larry Hogan signed the order Monday night at the request of the city. Cars and at least one store have been set on fire during a riot. Businesses are being looted in part of the city.

 

7:40 p.m.

People are looting stores at a mall where the riots in Baltimore started.

As police moved away from the mall into a nearby neighborhood, the mall became unprotected and people started carrying clothes and other items away.

Cars have been burned, other stores have been looted and a pharmacy caught fire during the mayhem. The riot started hours after Freddie Gray was buried.

 

7:55 p.m.

Police are firing beanbags and rubber bullets at looters at a mall where the Baltimore riots began.

As three dozen police entered the mall, looters began running and driving away. The mall was one of several businesses to be looted as rioters set cars and a business on fire.

 

8 p.m.

The mayor of Baltimore says she will impose a weeklong curfew after people looted stores, set fire to cars and threw bricks and other objects at police officers.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake says a curfew will be imposed beginning Tuesday from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

The mayor, a lifelong Baltimore resident, says too many people have spent generations building up the city for it to be destroyed by “thugs.”

 

8:15 p.m.

Police say 15 officers have been injured in the Baltimore riots and two are still in the hospital.

More than two dozen people have been arrested after people looted stores, set cars on fire and threw bricks at police.

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