One year on from the tragic shooting of Michael Brown by Officer Darren Wilson on August 9^th, 2014, civil unrest erupted again amidst a peaceful demonstration to commemorate the tragedy.

The day started off with peaceful marches around the St. Louis suburb, and vigils remembering Brown were held throughout the day.

A four and a half minute silence was observed to represent the four and a half hours that he lay on the street after the shooting.

Then chaos erupted in the evening when gunfire scattered demonstrators and police alike as acting police chief Andre Anderson was talking to reporters.

Detectives pursued the perpetrator and were shot at, according to St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar.

The perpetrator was eventually shot down, after shooting at the pursuing vehicle and detectives.

As word of the shooting spread, protestors became restless and police presence was reinforced. Belmar stated, "We cannot continue, we cannot talk about the good things that we have been talking about if we are prevented from moving forward with this kind of violence."

He added that people who used violence weren't protestors. "Protestors are people who are out there to effect change."

The shooting was followed by a tense standoff between protestors and police on West Florissant Avenue, a stone's throw away from where Brown was shot a year ago.

Objects were thrown, businesses were damaged and a journalist was robbed. Three police officers were injured and tactical units were called in as the violence escalated.

Officers ordered the crowd to disperse, threatening them with arrest, but the situation worsened and a state of emergency was declared.

"Safety, our top priority, is now compromised. This is no longer a peaceful protest. Participants are now unlawfully assembled," the St. Louis County police department tweeted.

Following the state of emergency, a 200-strong group marched from Christ Church Cathedral to St. Louis' Tomas F. Eagleton United States Courthouse.

There were prayers, chanting and demands that the Justice Department take stronger action against the officers who were involved what is being described as a racial shooting.

A sign was hung in front of downtown St. Louis' Old Courthouse which read, "Racism still lives here #fightback."