Angry protesters yell at riot police in St Louis

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Protesters angered by the fatal shooting of a black 18-year-old by a white police officer faced off with officers in south St Louis for a second night as accusations of racial profiling prompted calls for a federal investigation ahead of a weekend of planned peaceful rallies.

State and city leaders have urged the Justice Department to investigate the death of Vonderrit D. Myers on Wednesday night, fearing he was targeted because he was black.

Police say the officer who killed Myers was returning fire, but Myers’ parents say he was unarmed.

“This here was racial profiling turned deadly,” state Sen. Jamilah Nasheed said at a news conference Thursday.

Myers’ death comes two months after the Aug 9 fatal shooting of Michael Brown, a black unarmed 18-year-old, by a white police officer in nearby Ferguson.

Brown’s killing sparked dozens of often violent protests in the St Louis suburb.

A state grand jury is deciding whether Officer Darren Wilson will face charges in his death.

Late on Thursday night following a quiet candlelight prayer vigil for Myers, hundreds of people joined a more rowdy gathering in Shaw to protest his death.

Police in riot gear lined up on a high street, flanked by brand name stores and restaurants. Protesters yelled abuse and profanities to taunt the officers, who silently stood their ground. Police helicopters buzzed above the neighborhood. Officers used pepper spray to force the crowd back.

Some protesters burned the American flag, while others banged on drums and shouted “This is what democracy looks like!” Some slammed the sides of police vans. Broken glass littered the street.

Eventually the protesters backed off, moving a couple of blocks away. Riot police remained in the area.

Activists and other protesters from around the country have been preparing for four days of rallies, marches and protests over the Ferguson shooting.

Organisers say the events, which start Friday and include a march Saturday in downtown St Louis, have taken on added urgency in the wake of Myers’ death.

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