Angry crowds swept through Baltimore on Monday night and early Tuesday — smashing windows, looting stores and setting fires — after the funeral of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old man who died after suffering a spine injury in police custody...

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency and called out the National Guard. Police from nearby towns converged to help restore order after a week of protests turned violent over the weekend, culminating Monday in running street battles...

The unrest was touched off by the April 19 death of Freddie Gray, 25, who had been arrested a week earlier and injured while in custody. His spine was partially severed, and how that happened is under investigation. Police are scheduled to release the results of their investigation Friday.

On Monday, Baltimore police announced they had received a “credible threat” that three violent gangs — the Black Guerrilla Family, the Bloods and the Crips — were working together to “take out” law enforcement officers...

Monday's violence in Baltimore started in the afternoon when a group of teenagers confronted a phalanx of officers. Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said a call had gone out to high school students on social media urging demonstrators to gather at the Mondawmin Mall, then move toward City Hall. He said officials had information that “a large purge of high school students” would be there.

A 2013 movie called “The Purge” was based on the idea of a temporary suspension of all law; however, the crowd did not necessarily gather with any intention of behaving lawlessly.

Batts said 250 to 300 police officers were at the mall, and they were outnumbered. Some students began pelting officers with water bottles and rocks, the Baltimore Sun reported. Things escalated from there...

he was breaking the law, he deserved to have his spine severed!