Trump Rally Violence: Protesters, Police Clash Outside Trump Rally In New Mexico

Protesters outside a Donald Trump rally in Albuquerque, New Mexico, began to get violent Tuesday night, hurling rocks, bottles, burning T-shirts and other items toward police, according to multiple media reports.

In response, police began firing tear gas toward the crowd, the Albuquerque Journal reported. But police later disputed that report, saying there was smoke in the area, but that police had not fired tear gas.

The unrest came just before election officials in Washington state were preparing to issue results from the state's Republican primary, where the main question was how many delegates Trump would collect, now that all his GOP rivals have exited the race.

The Washington primary is not a winner-take-all event, so while Trump was expected to win, it was unknown exactly how many delegates he would capture, because voters were still able to choose candidates who have left the race.

In Albuquerque, minutes after Trump took the stage in a convention center, about 100 protesters pushed through metal barricades and tried to enter the venue, the Albuquerque Journal reported.

Protesters shown on television via CNN could be heard chanting "F--- Donald Trump! F--- Donald Trump!"

The Albuquerque Police Department tweeted that some projectiles were hurled at the department's horses. Previously, the department tweeted that protesters were being forced to vacate a sidewalk in the area of the rally site.

Reports of gunfire at the scene were disputed by police.

By 11 p.m. EDT, Trump had already left the Albuquerque building, and rally attendees were being directed toward exits that were intended to steer them clear of the protesters, CNN reported.