Ferguson Unrest - AN 18-YEAR-OLD UNARMED BLACK MAN IS KILLED - 17 BUSINESSES WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED - $4.6 MILLION IN DAMAGES
Protests and rioting following the police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, catalyzing the Black Lives Matter movement. Commercial Destruction: Across both areas, 17 businesses were completely destroyed by fires. This included total losses for major retail chains like O'Reilly Auto Parts ($420,700) and Advance Auto Parts ($400,200), alongside local mom-and-pop shops.
AN 18-YEAR-OLD UNARMED BLACK MAN IS KILLED
The 2014 Ferguson unrest began on August 9, 2014, in Ferguson, Missouri, following the fatal shooting of 18-year-old unarmed Black man Michael Brown by white police officer Darren Wilson.
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The 2014 Ferguson unrest began on August 9, 2014, in Ferguson, Missouri, following the fatal shooting of 18-year-old unarmed Black man Michael Brown by white police officer Darren Wilson. The tragedy ignited widespread outrage, daily demonstrations, and riots demanding justice. Tensions were initially fueled by conflicting accounts; many witnesses stated Brown was surrendering with his hands raised when shot, a claim that popularized the slogan "Hands up, don't shoot".
First Wave: August 2014
August 9: Michael Brown was shot and killed.
August 10: Peaceful vigils turned into looting and property damage at night.
August 11–13: Police used tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters.
August 14: The Missouri State Highway Patrol took over security to ease tensions.
August 16: A state of emergency and nightly curfews were declared.
August 18: The National Guard was deployed to the city.
Second Wave: November 2014
November 24: A grand jury decided not to indict the officer.
November 25: Widespread rioting, fires, and arrests erupted immediately following the decision.
Widespread rioting and looting broke out in Ferguson immediately following the announcement. Dozens of businesses were damaged or burned down, and police cars were torched. Over 2,000 National Guard troops were deployed to restore order.
National Demonstrations: Protests spread across more than 170 U.S. cities, including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, blocking major highways and bridges in solidarity with Michael Brown’s family.
Commercial Destruction: Across both areas, 17 businesses were completely destroyed by fires. This included total losses for major retail chains like O'Reilly Auto Parts ($420,700) and Advance Auto Parts ($400,200), alongside local mom-and-pop shops.
Vandalism: Beyond the total structures burned, an additional 37 commercial buildings sustained significant structural damage due to looting, broken windows, and vandalism. Government and Emergency Costs: Separate from private property damage, St. Louis County officials estimated government operational costs—including overtime for police, deployment of the National Guard, fuel, and damaged police cruisers—reached up to $6 million.
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