Violence Erupts İn Baltimore After Freddy Gray Funeral

– Hundreds of teens clashed with riot police outside of a Baltimore mall Monday, hours after the funeral for a black man who died while in police custody.



A flier circulated on social media called for a period of violence Monday afternoon to begin at a local mall and then move downtown toward City Hall.



Police responded to the mall and assembled in front, blocking off its parking lot. 



As protestors arrived at the Mondawmin Mall, they threw stones, metals, rocks and bricks at police in riot gear. 



Seven police officers were injured and a police vehicle was set on fire, while several other vehicles were damaged, Baltimore police said on Twitter. 



Anadolu Agency photojournalist Samuel Chorum was among those injured by objects thrown by demonstrators.



A number of other journalists were also injured in the melee.



The protestors, mostly high school students, looted a CVS drug store as the clashes continued. 



Police are attempting to push back demonstrators using pepper spray, paintballs and bean bag bullets. 



Twenty-five-year-old Freddie Gray, died from a severed spine a week after being arrested April 12. 



Dignitaries attending Gray's funeral included legendary civil rights activists Elijah Cummings, former NAACP President Kweisi Mfume and John Sarbanes, all current or former representatives from the state of Maryland.



Gray's death came on the heels of a string of recent police-involved killings of black suspects across the country that have have stirred racial tensions, and set off nationwide protests over perceived injustices within the U.S. justice system.



The Justice Department announced that it had launched an investigation to determine whether any civil rights violations occurred during Gray's arrest and death.



Baltimore police have suspended with pay six officers pending an investigation.



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