St. Louis protesters block interstate, 1 demonstrator dies

In this May 29, 2020, photo, police in protective gear held protesters back during a George Floyd protest at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City. Protests have been erupting all over the country after George Floyd died earlier this week in police custody in Minneapolis. (Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas City Star via AP)
In this May 29, 2020, photo, police in protective gear held protesters back during a George Floyd protest at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City. Protests have been erupting all over the country after George Floyd died earlier this week in police custody in Minneapolis. (Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas City Star via AP)

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Protesters blocked a downtown St. Louis interstate, set a fire in the road and broke into trucks during a demonstration over the death of George Floyd after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee onto Floyd's neck during an arrest. One St. Louis protester died early Saturday.

Protesters blocked Interstate 44 for nearly three hours after taking to the streets Friday night, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. The protester who died had climbed between two trailers of a FedEx truck and was killed when it drove away. Police said they were investigating.

The crowd dispersed after a few gunshots were fired. Police did not report any arrests.

The white Minneapolis police officer who knelt on Floyd's neck was arrested on murder charges Friday.

Floyd's death has sparked protests across the United States and fires and violent unrest in Minneapolis. Tensions between police and minority residents have lingered in the St. Louis area since the 2014 death of Michael Brown in Ferguson.

In Kansas City, Missouri, police used pepper spray on people marching through its Westport bar-and-entertainment district Friday night and Saturday morning, The Kansas City Star reported.

Kansas City Police Capt. David Jackson said the pepper spray was used on about 50 "non-lawful protesters" around 1 a.m. Saturday in order to disperse them. Jackson said some in the crowd had thrown rocks and bottles, shattered three business windows and damaged police cars.

At least five people were arrested for offenses such as disorderly conduct, Jackson said.

Benny Cardella, the owner of a hair-styling shop. said barber tools were taken from his business after the front window was broken but more valuable TVs and artwork were not removed.

On Saturday, managers of the Country Club Plaza, a shopping and entertainment district that has become a gathering place for protesters, announced on social media and their website that the district would close Saturday afternoon and remain closed Sunday because of planned protests.