The memorial marking the spot where slain teenager Michael Brown was shot by police in Ferguson, Mo. caught fire early Tuesday morning.
Police speculate the fire was caused by candles surrounding the memorial, according to KMOV St. Louis. Some residents of the community, however, suspect it was arson and claim officials did not respond quickly to put out the fire.
A memorial honoring Michael Brown was burned overnight, according to fire officials: http://t.co/TWaUkM4IYr #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/W4zJCe3vkD
— msnbc (@msnbc) September 23, 2014
Michael Brown memorial destroyed by fire –> http://t.co/Sj9xxzOaKB pic.twitter.com/sMAUV6tLF3
— KMOV (@KMOV) September 23, 2014
Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson addressed the incident later Tuesday.
“We’re all saddened by the fire that was reported at one of the Michael Brown memorials this morning and are trying to obtain as much information as possible to determine what happened,” he said in a statement.
The memorial appeared on the street in the first few days after Brown was shot by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson.
Residents have begun to rebuild the memorial, stringing together stuffed animals and balloons, according to the Associated Press.