Shots were fired at police officers in Ferguson, Missouri, as they tried to arrest six people suspected of a break-in on Tuesday night, authorities said. The officers were responding to reports of a burglary at Beauty Town, a store that was torched during the protests against the killing of Michael Brown. The officers found several people coming out of the store carrying hair products, according to a statement by the City of Ferguson sent to NBC station KSDK. The statement said that shortly after the officers told six people they were under arrest and began taking them into custody, two rounds of shots were fired directly at them.
The first round came from behind the store where an apartment block is located, the city said, while the second came from across the street after the officers ducked for cover to avoid being hit. Other officers responded to the incident and were able to set up a perimeter and clear the scene within 15 to 20 minutes, the statement added. Despite a search, police said they were not able to find any weapons or people believed to be involved with the shooting and officers said it does not appear to have been planned. The six people arrested have been charged with burglary.