Shooting of Ferguson police officers denounced

Protestors hold a candle-light vigil outside the Ferguson Police Department in Ferguson, Missouri, March 12, 2015. The shooting of two police officers in Ferguson, Missouri, during a protest rally sparked an intense manhunt for suspects on Thursday and ratcheted up tensions in a city at the center of a national debate over race and policing. [Photo/Agencies]

CHICAGO - The latest shooting of two police officers in a protest outside the police department in Ferguson, Missouri, early Thursday morning was denounced vehemently across the US though the manhunt for the suspect is under way and the gunman remained at large.

President Barack Obama took to Twitter Thursday to convey his prayers to the officers who got shot.

While denounced violence against police, Obama wrote "Violence against police is unacceptable. Our prayers are with the officers in MO. Path to justice is one all of us must travel together."

US Attorney General Eric Holder warned Thursday that the overnight shooting of two police officers in Ferguson threatened the reforms for policing practice, calling the attack "inexcusable " and "cowardly."

"Such senseless acts of violence threaten the very reforms that nonviolent protesters in Ferguson and around the country have been working towards for the past several months," said Holder in a statement. "This heinous assault on two brave law enforcement officers was inexcusable and repugnant."

The family of Michael Brown, whose fatal shooting by a Ferguson police officer last year sparked widespread protests in America, also condemned the latest shooting of the two police officers.

Brown's parents released a statement calling the police shooting "senseless."

"We reject any kind of violence directed toward members of law enforcement. It cannot and will not be tolerated," the family said. "We specifically denounce the actions of stand-alone agitators who unsuccessfully attempt to derail the otherwise peaceful and non- violent movement that has emerged throughout this nation to confront police brutality and to forward the cause of equality under the law for all. We must work together to bring peace to our communities. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the officers injured during this morning's shooting and their families."