Two police officers were shot during a protest outside the Ferguson, Missouri police department early on Thursday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper reported.
The Post-Dispatch reported that Ferguson Lt. Col.Al Eickhoff said he did not believe either of the officers were part of his department. He could not provide details on their injuries to the Post-Dispatch.

Gunfire heard at protest outside Ferguson police department http://t.co/DEevVLUTRA

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— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) March 12, 2015

A few dozen demonstrators fled following the sound of gunfire around midnight with some screaming, "They hit a cop," according to a Reuters photographer at the scene. Police could not be reached immediately for comment.

"I saw at least one officer covered in blood," eyewitness at #Ferguson protest tells BBC World News http://t.co/9ngFJk8XKY

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) March 12, 2015

Several dozen protesters had gathered in front of the Ferguson police department earlier on Wednesday night, just hours after the city's police chief, Thomas Jackson, announced his resignation.

Ferguson police chief resigns after scathing Justice Dept. report http://t.co/5x2DfWHW2x

— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) March 12, 2015

Protesters had called for Jackson's removal since the fatal shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown by white Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9, 2014. The killing triggered nationwide protests and drew scrutiny to police use of deadly force, especially against black men.
Jackson's departure was the latest in a string of officials who stepped down following a scathing report from the US Justice Department that found widespread racially biased abuses in the city's police department and municipal court