Brooklyn simmers with rage in third night of rioting

Enraged protesters battle cops in Brooklyn streets during third night of rioting after it's revealed that 16-year-old Kimani Gray was shot in the back

As fights between cops and angry teens erupted in East Flatbush, 46 were arrested Wednesday night. Police struggled to control a furious crowd that broke away from a planned peaceful vigil.

By Chelsia Rose Marcius AND Shane Dixon Kavanaugh / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Published: Wednesday, March 13, 2013, 2:29 PM

Updated: Thursday, March 14, 2013, 9:31 AM

AP

Police officers arrest a demonstrator in what was a very ugly evening again in Brooklyn.

Protesters enraged over the fatal shooting of a teenager by police poured into Brooklyn streets for a third straight night Wednesday, pitching bricks, bottles and garbage in furious clashes with cops.

At least 46 demonstrators were arrested along Church Ave. in East Flatbush. Police struggled to control a hostile crowd that broke away from a planned peaceful vigil for Kimani (Kiki) Gray, 16, killed by police on Saturday night.

Sam Costanza/New York Daily News

Police push protesters back on Church Ave. in East Flatbush.

Gray’s sister Mahnefeh was among those arrested. A police officer suffered a gash in the face when a tossed brick hit him, NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said, and a window was smashed in an inspector’s car.

Kimani Gray is shown in this undated photo released on Sunday, March 10, 2013, in New York. Gray was shot and killed by New York City police officers in Brooklyn, when he allegedly pointed a .38 caliber revolver at them. Both officers fired, striking Gray. He was taken to Kings County Hospital, where he was pronounced DOA.

“They didn’t have to kill him,” Makaeo Williams, 18, said as police on motorcycles tracked alongside him. “I’m feeling mad inside. I’m angry. That’s why I’m out here.”

Many in the community contest police allegations that Gray pointed a gun at cops when he was shot during a confrontation with two plainclothes officers on E. 52nd St. Saturday night. Those suspicions on the street intensified Wednesday when an autopsy report revealed Gray was hit by seven bullets — three to the back.

Sam Costanza/New York Daily News

A pregnant protester who was knocked to the ground gets help from other protesters.

It was not clear in what order the shots struck the teen or whether he had his back to the police when they opened fire .

Sam Costanza/New York Daily News

Protesters taunt cops on Church Ave.

A witness told the Daily News Tuesday that the youth did not have a gun in his hand. But a police spokesman said the witness told detectives she couldn’t see the incident clearly “from the angle I was at.”

A woman who identified herself as Gray’s cousin told news outlets Wednesday that the teen was carrying a gun for a friend and was trying to alert cops that he had a weapon when he was shot. A loaded .38-caliber revolver was recovered at the scene.

Todd Maisel/New York Daily News

Tishana King said she witnessed the shooting of Kimani Gray from her third floor window and she says she saw no gun.

The trouble Wednesday night began soon after more than 200 people set off from the vigil site at Church Ave. and E. 55th St. around 8:30 p.m.

Ellis Washington

Photo of crime scene.

Dozens chanted “NYPD, KKK, how many kids did you kill today” as they marched west on Church Ave. toward the 67th Precinct stationhouse.

But things quickly got out of hand as some protesters tried to climb on police motorcycles. Men and women were pepper-sprayed and thrown to the ground and handcuffed.