Tear gas & ‘flaming barricade’: Protesters confront St. Louis cops over fatal shooting

St. Louis police have been confronted by residents after officers fatally shot a black suspect. At least three people were arrested, police said, but continued protest resulted in officers deploying tear gas and rubber bullets. Several fires were reported.

Shortly after the shooting near Page Boulevard and Walton Avenue in St. Louis, residents took to the street and blocked traffic in protest. They reportedly demanded to know why the officers killed the suspect.

According to police, the suspect pointed a gun at the officers before they shot him. 

Although officials said three people were arrested early in the day, demonstrators continued to stay out until the evening. At one point, police deployed tear gas and rubber bullets against demonstrators, according to those on the ground.

Car on fire. pic.twitter.com/B6JgnQP00a

— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 20, 2015

Meanwhile, several fires were spotted throughout the area. One fire engulfed what appeared to be a vacant building, although it's unclear if the incident is related to the protest.

Videos posted online showed firefighters arriving to try and put the flames out.

Elsewhere, some individuals set up a "flaming barricade" near Page Boulevard.

A car was also set on fire.

Smoke Bombs. And a rubber bullet just whizzed by me. Almost positive rubber bullet STL City March #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/JT2pX6gI8a

— ChuckModi (@ChuckModi1) August 20, 2015

The suspect fatally shot by officers has not been identified, but police have described him as a black male in his 20s.

As protesters demanded answers from police, those on the ground said they had begun to arrest some individuals.

The man who was fatally shot was not alone, police said. Officers were preparing toexecute a search warrant on a local house when to black males ran out the back door, both armed with weapons, police said.

Building on Fire on 1300 block of Baynard pic.twitter.com/6qbhpYQ22t

— Search4Swag (@search4swag) August 20, 2015

After being ordered to drop their weapons, police said one of the suspects pointed his gun at the officers. This prompted both officers to fire a total of four shots and strike the suspect. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene while the second suspect, who allegedly possessed crack cocaine, remains on the loose.

Police said the suspect's gun was found to have been stolen. Four guns total were recovered as well as crack cocaine.

Fire fighting crews have arrived. pic.twitter.com/bLV39uc21l

— Search4Swag (@search4swag) August 20, 2015

Soon after the shooting, the street was full of nearly 100 residents, the Post-Dispatch reported. Police warned them that they were assembling unlawfully before a total of three arrests.

Those at the scene have said that tensions are running high. One reporter said a plastic bottle was thrown at police.

Shutting shit down with a flaming barricade across page & walton #stl pic.twitter.com/B0Wm9VDcfX

— natalie solidarity (@constantnatalie) August 20, 2015

Officers in the area are heavily armed and sporting riot gear, according to pictures posted on social media.

Wednesday's shooting came on the same day that residents were commemorating the one-year anniversary of the death of Kajieme Powell, who was also shot by police. Powell was killed for brandishing a knife against officers.

Police arresting man about to grab neck of person questioning why pic.twitter.com/yQbKehWjGZ

— Jesse Bogan (@JesseBogan) August 19, 2015