|
 St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said authorities had "a
pretty good idea" where the gunshots that wounded the officers had
originated, without providing specifics, but added that an arrest
was not imminent.
The kind of gun used, the shooter's motivation and any connection to
the protesters remained a mystery, prolonging uncertainty for a town
that has come to symbolize America's struggle with race and
policing.
The latest bout of violence in the St. Louis suburb, first rattled
by the killing of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown by a white
officer last summer, brought out signs of sympathy for police on
Friday.
One protester stood opposite the Ferguson police department with a
sign reading "Cops Lives Matter," playing on the "Black Lives
Matter" slogan that sprang up in the wake of police killings of
unarmed black men in New York City and elsewhere.
Belmar said donations for rewards to help the investigation had
poured in over the last two days.
The desire of some to move on from months of racial strife and
protests played out in a chilly evening rain in front of the police
department on Friday, where a dozen mostly white residents stood
holding signs reading "I [heart] Ferguson".
 "Obviously we have a lot of changes to make, but we're very
resilient and committed to do what's right," said Susan Ankenbrand,
72, a tour guide in St Louis and Ferguson resident for 40 years.
"But we want to put another face on our community."
Though others, like The Organization for Black Struggle Executive
Director Montague Simmons, are determined to continue the near-daily
demonstrations.
"Some people are sick of it, sure," Simmons said. "At the same time,
others want us because of the change we bring."
To that end, five residents signed an affidavit at Ferguson City
Hall Friday afternoon to start a petition for Mayor James Knowles'
recall, according to a statement from The Organization for Black
Struggle.
Residents will have 60 days to gather signatures from 15 percent of
registered voters in the last mayoral election to prompt a special
election, the statement said.
MAYOR STANDS FIRM
Ferguson's police chief, city manager, municipal court judge and two
police officers have resigned since the U.S. Justice Department
released a damning review last week of the police force in Ferguson,
where a majority of residents are African-American and most of the
police are white.
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The report found that the force overwhelmingly arrested and issued
traffic citations to black residents, creating a "toxic" environment
with its policing practices.
But Knowles said on Friday that it would be up to voters to remove
him.
"Somebody here has to be left standing to make sure the government
continues to operate. There are ways to get rid of me as mayor,"
Knowles said in an interview with National Public Radio.
Knowles, whose job as mayor is part-time, told NPR, "I'm giving it
every last measure at this point and I will continue to do so, as
long as the citizens will have me."
In Thursday's shooting, a 41-year-old county police officer suffered
a shoulder wound and a 32-year-old colleague from a nearby police
department sustained a facial wound that left a bullet lodged near
his ear. Both were treated and released by a local hospital.
The shooting of the officers came less than three months after the
killing of two New York City patrolmen by a troubled man who said he
was seeking to avenge the deaths at the hands of police of Brown and
Eric Garner in New York.
The latest turn of events threatened to undermine an incipient
recovery in the town of 21,000, where an injection of funds has
helped small businesses rebuild after two spates of looting and
vandalism last year.
President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder, who both
have been critical of city leaders and police in Ferguson, called
the assailants "criminals" and "punks" on Thursday.
(Additional reporting by David Bailey in Minneapolis, Fiona Ortiz in
Chicago; Writing by Frank McGurty, Mary Milliken and Curtis Skinner;
Editing by Ken Wills & Kim Coghill)
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