He added that police fired at the suspects at some point during the altercation. But there is no evidence that they were hit. “We have no indication either suspect was shot,” Belmar said.

Belmar said he doesn’t believe the incident was linked to the Ferguson protests, and that he knew of no other incidents Saturday night.

In the background, chants could be heard from protesters, including, “We are going to shut this down!”

Many in the group of roughly 100 expressed skepticism at the police account of the shooting.

Dozens of police cars from numerous jurisdictions converged on the area after the shooting. The shooter is reported to have fled into nearby woods.

Police established a staging area near the St. Peters Evangelical Church of Christ on West Florissant Avenue.

Officers are still searching for the shooter, according to St. Louis County Police.

The shooting came at the end of another week of protests, arrests and violence since the Aug. 9 shooting of Michael Brown by Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson.