Protests broke out in the streets of St. Louis on Friday, September 15 after Judge Timothy Wilson issued a ruling acquitting former police officer Jason Stockley of murder. At one point, an estimated 300 protesters were on the city streets, although they were matched by a force of 100 or so officers. The protests were almost entirely peaceful, although at one point police deployed pepper spray as protesters blocked a police bus. Police also used their bicycles as makeshift barricades, pushing back the crowd.

Photographer Theo Welling was there to capture the action in the initial hours after the early-morning verdict and into the afternoon.

September 15, 2017

Photos by Theo Welling