UPDATED 10:50 p.m. ET
Violence flared Saturday night in Baltimore as a handful of people smashed windows of police vehicles and some storefronts following hours of peaceful protests against police brutality.
The protests were prompted by the death of black resident Freddie Gray, who died a week after he was arrested by police on April 12.
Protesters reportedly marched to various locations, including the Baltimore Police Department's Western District station, the site of repeated demonstrations this week.
But what began as peaceful demonstrations turned violent later in the evening, with reports of smashed cars and some looting. Some also threw cans and bottles at officers. About 12 have been arrested, according to Baltimore Police.
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said Saturday night she was "profoundly disappointed" that the protests turned violent.
"Our city has a long history of peaceful demonstrations," Rawlings-Blake said. "Ninety-five percent or more of the people who came out sought to protest in that spirit. Unfortunately a small group of agitators turned what was otherwise a peaceful demonstration into a violent protest."
Police commissioner Anthony Batts described a group of people breaking windows, engaging police officers and destroying property as "very violent agitators," according to the Associated Press.
Batts said his department spokesman was "struck and punched by this crowd."
#FreddieGray protesters smashing windows of #Baltimore police cars pic.twitter.com/BwesGXzoa0— Colin Campbell (@cmcampbell6) April 25, 2015
Clean up at Michael Kors. pic.twitter.com/GVaB9sD8gO— Erica L. Green (@EricaLG) April 25, 2015
The six police officers involved in Gray's arrest were suspended with pay after footage of officers hauling a screaming Gray, 25, into the back of a van surfaced online. At least one of Gray's legs appears limp in the video. He died in part due to a severed spine and a smashed voice box. Police claim they arrested him "without force."
Baseball fans at the Red Sox-Orioles game at one point were asked to stay inside the stadium at Camden Yards due to the demonstrations.
#BREAKING: An announcement has been made at #CamdenYards that all fans inside the ballpark are to remain in their seats until further notice— WJZ | CBS Baltimore (@cbsbaltimore) April 26, 2015
Over the past few days, officers have stood outside the station during demonstrations, setting up metal barricades to block protesters from getting close.
Small group of protesters facing off with police outside the Baltimore western district headquarters #FreddieGray pic.twitter.com/ttjaKV3BAf— Jon Swaine (@jonswaine) April 25, 2015
The Baltimore Police Department is investigating what happened to Gray, and Commissioner Anthony Batts said that if anyone did hurt Gray, they will be prosecuted. Police claim an officer initially chased Gray after he made eye contact with him and fled.
"Car Activism" and "Honking4Justice" has been more vibrant in Baltimore than any place I've seen #FreddieGray pic.twitter.com/BiX5rtvVHN— Chuck_MODI (@POPSspotSports) April 25, 2015
Police acknowledged that Gray should have received medical attention before officers placed him in a van. They also said officers didn't put Gray in a seatbelt during the ride, which was rerouted to the shock trauma center at the University of Maryland Medical Center, because he had a "medical emergency," police claim.
At one point, the driver stopped the car, so an officer could get out and chain Gray's legs together.
A young black boy watching the #FreddieGray protests from his window. Baltimore. pic.twitter.com/83jzvSKIeG— Taylor Griffin (@Tay_Griffin14) April 25, 2015
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into Gray's death.
At a downtown intersection, a dozen marchers laid down in the street during an impromptu "die-in."
Wearing a sign around his neck that said "I am Freddie Gray," 33-year-old Dante Acree joined thousands of others outside City Hall. Acree said he came out to the protest because "it could have been one of my kids."
"It could have been my brother, my father," he said. "I'd want the same support."
Leonard Patterson, 56, said he drove from Manassas, Virginia, to be a part of the protest. Patterson said he decided to come after thinking about his college-aged daughter.
"I'm trying to do everything in my limbs, everything in my power, to make this a better world for her," said Patterson, holding up his black and white drawing of Freddie Gray. The drawing shows Gray being hoisted from a police van to heaven by two angels.
"I'm here to do what I can. Police brutality is as old as the 1950s, the 1960s. It's still here," he said.
Additional reporting by The Associated Press.