Violence Erupts in Ferguson Following Court Ruling

Violent protests erupted in Ferguson, Missouri, on Monday after demonstrators learned there would be no criminal indictment of police officer Darren Wilson for the August shooting death of unarmed teen Michael Brown.

Demonstrators taunted police, shattered windows and set fire to two St. Louis County police cars, looted and set ablzae businesses. Scattered, intermittent gunfire was also reported. Scores of police officers, armed with riot gear, dispersed a crowd of about 300 with volleys of tear gas, pepper spray and bean bags.

There were no official reports of arrests or injuries.

Monday's violence - reminiscent of the unrest that rocked this St. Louis suburb for several days following Brown's death last summer - came despite efforts by Brown's family, civil rights activists local and state authorities and President Obama to tamp down chaos and anger in the wake of the grand jury's findings. "There's never an excuse for violence,'' said Obama.

According to media reports, there were protests against the court decision and police violence in other US cities as well.