Two Police Officers Shot In Ferguson Amid Protests Outside Police Department

St. Louis Police Chief Jon Belmar said, according to CNN, that the two police officers who were shot Thursday were targeted for being part of the force. Both officers, who were admitted to a hospital, are reportedly conscious, ibtimes.com reports.

"These police officers were standing there and they were shot, just because they were police officers," Belmar said, according to CNN, adding that the shooting occurred when the protesters were about to disperse for the day.

 The Webster Grove officer was reportedly shot in the face while the St. Louis County officer was shot in the shoulder, according to The Guardian.

“I don’t know who did the shooting to be honest with you right now, but somehow they were embedded in that group of folks,” Belmar said, according to The Guardian.

Markus Loehrer, a witness to the incident said, according to CNN: "All of a sudden, I heard at least four or five shots ring out," adding: "It took me at least 30 seconds of watching before I realized there was an officer down. We are not there to shoot cops, we don't like violence. So we did what anybody would do -- we ran away."