2 cops shot at Ferguson protest rally near police station

© Kate Munsch / Reuters

Two police officers have been shot during a protest outside Ferguson Police Station, according to the St. Louis County Police chief, who said the men are conscious, but their injuries are "very serious."

A 32-year-old officer from Webster Groves was shot in the face and a 41-year-old from St. Louis County was shot in the shoulder, Chief Jon Belmar told journalists at a press conference. He added that both the injured were being treated at a local hospital.

"These police officers were standing there and they were shot, just because they were police officers," Belmar said.

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The shooting broke out as the rally outside the police station was subsiding early on Thursday.

Police take cover after two cops were shot in front of Ferguson PD on Thursday, March 12, 2015. Pic- @LaurieSkrivan http://bit.ly/19eAO27

— Lynden Steele (@manofsteele) March 12, 2015

A Reuters photographer at the scene said a few dozen demonstrators fled following the sound of gunfire with some screaming, "They hit a cop."

The St Louis County Police chief said at least three shots were fired during the rally. No suspects have yet been identified, he added.

A video has emerged featuring the moment the shots were fired. While it's low-resolution and not much can be seen, the sounds of gunfire are distinctly heard, as well as the groaning of a man who was hit.

Photo from @stltoday showing officer being loaded into ambulance after shooting in#Ferguson http://bit.ly/1wZEGP4

— Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) March 12, 2015

Ferguson Lt. Col. Al Eickhoff, who is replacing the outgoing police chief Tom Jackson, earlier told the he didn't think either of the officers were from his department. He also would not comment on the extent of their injuries.

RT @NewsRevo: Carrying the officer away and guns drawn. #ferguson | pic via @wyze43 |@NewsRevo http://bit.ly/1xh129e"

— News Source LA (@NewsSourceLA) March 12, 2015

Lord, have mercy RT @bobhoehn_stl: Two officers shot in Ferguson. First ambulance leaving from scene. http://bit.ly/19eAOir

— Mollie (@MZHemingway) March 12, 2015

The protest outside the Ferguson Police Department began after Jackson's resignation on Wednesday. He is the sixth city official to step down in the wake of a DoJ report last week lashing out at Ferguson's courts and Police Department for racial prejudice.

The protests at Ferguson Police Department started after Jackson's resignation on Wednesday. The man was the sixth city official to step down in the wake of DoJ report last week lashing out at Ferguson's courts and Police Department for racial bias.

Yeah--someone just shot at them. RT "@deray: Rifles drawn. Ferguson PD.http://bit.ly/1wzeXMW"

— Grant (@GrantGambling) March 12, 2015

Shots came from a house up the hill across from police station in #Ferguson

— Susan Weich (@susan_weich) March 12, 2015

On Monday, state Judge Roy L. Richter was reassigned by the Missouri Supreme Court to take over all pending and future municipal cases from Ferguson. The high court said the move was intended "to help restore public trust and confidence," adding that Richter would be authorized to implement any reforms needed to "ensure that the rights of defendants are respected and to help restore the integrity of the system."

The report was prompted after the US saw a wave of large-scale protests against police brutality following the shooting of unarmed black teen Michael Brown by Ferguson policeman Darren Wilson in August last year. In November, a grand jury decided not to indict Wilson.