FERGUSON, Mo. — Missouri Governor Jay Nixon early Monday ordered the National Guard into Ferguson hours after police said escalating violence led to shootings, arrests and “pre-planned” acts of aggression by protesters.

Nixon made the announcement following another night of clashes between police and protesters in the suburb of St. Louis.

Sunday night and early Monday morning, protesters shot at police, threw Molotov cocktails at officers, looted local businesses and carried out a “coordinated attempt” to block roads and overrun the police’s command center. The National Guard will “help restore peace and order and to protect the citizens of Ferguson,” the governor’s office said.

“Tonight, a day of hope, prayers, and peaceful protests was marred by the violent criminal acts of an organized and growing number of individuals, many from outside the community and state, whose actions are putting the residents and businesses of Ferguson at risk,” a statement from Nixon’s office said. “These violent acts are a disservice to the family of Michael Brown and his memory, and to the people of this community who yearn for justice to be served, and to feel safe in their own homes.”

Stand-off between Police and protesters

Stand-off between Police and protesters

The shooting death in Ferguson of unarmed 18-year-old black teenager Michael Brown has led to a week of protests that have sometimes turned violent.

Late Sunday, more than two hours before a second midnight curfew was set to begin, police fired tear gas at hundreds of angry protesters who were marching down the town’s main thoroughfare toward a police command center.

“Based on the conditions, I had no alternative but to elevate the level of our response,” said Capt. Ron Johnson of the Missouri Highway Patrol, who is in command in Ferguson. “We had to act to protect lives and property.”

At least two people were injured — including one person who was shot, Johnson said. Seven or eight people were arrested and will be charged with failure to disperse, police said.

Johnson also offered specific scenes from the night that illustrated the intensifying violence:

 

  • At 8:25 p.m. local time, a person was shot on West Florissant, the street where protesting has been centered.
  • At 8:26 p.m. shots were fired at a nearby location.
  • At 8:27 p.m. police learned that a “subject was down.”
  • At 8:28 p.m. police received a report of eight people with guns and tactical teams responded.
  • By 8:56 p.m. hundreds of protests marched toward the shopping center where police have set up their command post. In response, police officers lobbed tear gas at the group and asked other local police departments for assistance.
  • At 9:20 p.m. Johnson said McDonald’s employees were forced to lock themselves in a storage room after being “overrun” by protesters.

“Police were shot at, makeshift barricades were set up to block police, bottles and rocks were thrown at police,” Johnson said.

He added that officials are looking into additional steps to restore calm to the city.

Protesters with hands in the air gesture...

Protesters with hands in the air gesture…

But some protesters said no one threw Molotov cocktails.

Renita Lamkin, 43, the pastor of St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church in St. Charles, Mo., has been acting as a peacekeeper, urging people to remain calm.

“That is not true,” she said when asked about claims that protesters threw Molotov cocktails.

Yah Ammi, 30, agreed saying protesters did nothing to provoke officers. He did however say protesters planned a march to the police’s command post. In the middle of marching there, officers threw tear gas at the group.

“They cut us off and they began shooting without warning,” Ammi said. “They began shooting into the crowd with women, children, and the peaceful, innocent protesters who were here exercising our constitutional rights.”

The situation became particularly intense and confusing when protesters were trapped between officers firing tear gas on one side and the sound of gunshots on the other side. Dozens of people ran onto side streets, ducked behind cars and hid behind buildings.

One protester, Keshonda James, 35, was driving away from police when a canister of tear gas shattered her windshield. The exploding glass hit her left arm, which was later bandaged by a fellow protester.

“Glass exploded everywhere. This isn’t cool. I’m not down here looting,” James said.

Bryan Jones, 23, was among those running. He said he felt more comfortable running toward the sound of gunshots than fleeing back toward police. He said he has been harassed by police his entire life.

“It’s horrible that I feel like I’m better off running away from the tear gas and running toward the people that are busting at the cops,” Jones, 23, said.

The unrest also led officials to close all schools in the Ferguson-Florissant School District Monday, according to KSDK TV. The school district received information late Sunday evening that contributed to safety concerns for students walking to school or waiting for buses on the impacted streets, the station said.

Meanwhile, a preliminary autopsy found that Brown was shot at least six times, but the circumstances of his death remain unclear.

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Police advance while sending a volley of tear gas toward demonstrators protesting the killing of teenager Michael Brown on Sunday in Ferguson, Mo.

Police advance while sending a volley of tear gas toward demonstrators protesting the killing of teenager Michael Brown on Sunday in Ferguson, Mo. (Photo: Scott Olson, Getty Images)
  • Police advance while sending a volley of tear gas toward demonstrators protesting the killing of teenager Michael Brown on Sunday in Ferguson, Mo.
  • A police officer is about to throw a tear gas canister as police try to disperse demonstrators who are protesting the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., Sunday.
  • Police hold a line as they try to disperse  demonstrators who continue to protest the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., Sunday.
  • Police wait to advance after tear gas was used to disperse a crowd Sunday.
  • A demonstrator throws a tear gas canister back at police.
  • A man wears a gas mask as demonstrators continue to protest the shooting death of  Sunday.
  • Demonstrators react as police fire tear gas at them while protesting the shooting death of Michael Brown.
  • A woman has her face doused with milk after suffering the effects of tear gas used by police.
  • Demonstrators protest in Ferguson, Mo., on Sunday.
  • Demonstrators speak to Capt. Ronald Johnson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, who was appointed by the governor to take control of security operations in the city of Ferguson after the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo.
  • Demonstrators speak to Capt. Ronald Johnson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol in Ferguson, Mo.
  • Lesley McSpadden and Michael Brown acknowledge a crowd during an event organized for their son Michael Brown at the Greater Grace Church in Ferguson, Mo.
  • People attend an event for Michael Brown at the Greater Grace Church.
  • The Rev. Al Sharpton speaks with Michael Brown and Lesley McSpadden during a rally for their son Michael Brown at Greater Grace Church.
  • A woman covers her eyes during a rally at Greater Grace Church for Michael Brown.
  • Lesley McSpadden and Michael Brown, the parents of slain 18-year-old Michael Brown, attend an event for their son at the Greater Grace Church in Ferguson, Mo. The event was lead by the Rev. Al Sharpton in support of justice for Michael Brown.
  • Helen Shaw speaks during a rally outside Greater Grace Church for Michael Brown.
  • The Rev. Al Sharpton speaks to parishioners at the Greater St. Marks Family Church as the community seeks  answers about the police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo.
  • Parishioners at the Greater St. Marks Family Church pray together as the community seeks  answers about the police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo.
  • Lesley McSpadden and Michael Brown listen to a speaker during a rally for their son.
  • People ignore a curfew moments before smoke and tear gas was fired to disperse them while protesting the shooting of teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo.
  • Police stand guard before the mandatory midnight curfew on Aug. 16 in Ferguson, Mo.
  • Police fire tear gas early Aug. 17 at a crowd of protesters who disobeyed the midnight curfew in Ferguson, Mo. People are protesting the shooting death of Michael Brown, 18, on Aug. 9.
  • Attorney general of Missouri, Chris Koster, greets parishioners at the Greater St. Marks Family Church as the community seeks answers about the shooting death.
  • Pastor Charles Ewing talks about his nephew Michael Brown at the Jennings (Missouri) Mason Temple Cogic where he is pastor.
  • Parishioners pray at Greater Grace Church in Ferguson, Missouri. Tensions remains high in the Ferguson community after the shooting of Michael Brown.
  • People scramble as police fire tear gas early on Aug. 17.
  • Police fire tear gas at demonstrators after they refused to honor the midnight curfew.
  • People run as police start to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd remaining after a midnight curfew.
  • Tear gas fills the air after demonstrators refused to honor a midnight curfew.
  • A demonstrator throws a tear gas canister back at police.
  • Law enforcement officers wait to advance after firing tear gas.
  • A woman holds her hands in the air while defying the midnight curfew.
  • People raise their hands in the air.
  • Police officers wait to disperse protesters.
  • People defy a curfew in Ferguson early on Aug. 17.
  • Protesters remain past the curfew.
  • Men light candles on Aug. 16 at a memorial where Michael Brown was killed.
  • Demonstrators protest Brown's shooting by holding their hands up on the streets of Ferguson on Aug. 16.
  • Demonstrators raise their hands.
  • A woman peers out from one of the looted businesses on West Florissant Avenue in Ferguson while watching protesters on the street.
  • Missouri HIghway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson walks among protesters on Aug. 16.
  • A woman protests the shooting death of Michael Brown.
  • Malik Shabazz, National President of Black Lawyers for Justice, carries a picture of Michael Brown as he leads demonstrators on West Florissant Avenue in Ferguson.
  • A demonstrator carries a picture of Michael Brown.
  • People march near the site where Michael Brown was killed on Canfield Drive in Ferguson.
  • FBI agents speak to a resident.
  • People gather on Aug. 16 next to a makeshift memorial for Brown.
  • People pray  at the site where Michael Brown was killed.
  • Business owners carry guns to protect their grocery store after another night of rioting and looting following protests on Aug. 16.
  • Business owner Mustafa Alshalabi cleans damage to his store, Sam's Meat Market, after it was looted on Aug. 16.
  • Volunteers help the owners of Sam's Meat Market clean up after their business was looted.
  • Ty Crustfield pauses at a makeshift memorial to Michael Brown on Aug. 15. The unarmed teen was fatally shot by a Ferguson, Mo., police officer a week earlier.
  • Missouri State Highway Patrol officers listen to taunts from demonstrators during a protest over the death of Michael Brown.
  • Protesters stand in the middle of West Florissant Avenue in Ferguson, Mo., early on Aug. 16, refusing to leave despite police orders.
  • Police set up a perimeter to confront demonstrators during an Aug. 15 protest over the shooting of Michael Brown.
  • People loot the Ferguson Market and Liquor store on Aug. 16.
  • Missouri Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson, left, answers questions as Gov. Jay Nixon listens during a news conference on Aug. 15 in Ferguson, Mo. Nixon assigned protest oversight to Johnson after violent protests in Ferguson erupted in the wake of the fatal shooting of  Michael Brown by a police officer on Aug. 9.
  • Missouri Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson speaks during a news conference in Ferguson.
  • Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson releases the name of the the officer accused of fatally shooting Michael Brown,  an unarmed black teenager. Jackson announced that the officer's name is Darren Wilson.
  • Security camera footage from a convenience store in Ferguson shows a brief confrontation on Aug. 9. A report released by Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson says the footage shows a confrontation between Michael Brown and an employee at the store. The report says that Brown and his friend, Dorian Johnson, stole a box of cigars from the store shortly before Brown's death.
  • People react after Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson releases the name of the the officer accused of fatally shooting Michael Brown.
  • Police Chief Thomas Jackson announces the name of the Ferguson police officer responsible for the Aug. 9 shooting death of teenager Michael Brown.
  • Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson, center, leaves a press conference after he announced the name of the Ferguson police officer responsible for the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown.
  • Demonstrators gather along West Florissant Avenue to protest the shooting death of Michael Brown on Aug. 14 in Ferguson, Mo.
  • Missouri State Highway PatrolCapt. Ronald Johnson, right, walks with demonstrators on West Florissant Avenue during a demonstration in Ferguson. Johnsonwas appointed by the governor to take control of security operations in the city.
  • People drove down the street honking their horns, raising their arms, and holding signs during a protest in Ferguson.
  • A demonstrator protests on West Florissant Avenue.
  • People protest against the shooting of Michael Brown.
  • People demonstrate on West Florissant Avenue.
  • Missouri Highway PatrolCapt. Ronald Johnson of the hugs Angela Whitman.
  • Rev. Traci Blackmon, center, talks to demonstrators at the site where Michael Brown was shot and killed by police.
  • Emanuel Freeman watches as demonstrators rally in the street where Michael Brown was killed.
  • Roxann Evans joins other demonstrators.
  • Demonstrators protest the shooting death of Michael Brown.
  • Following the shooting death of Michael Brown, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon speaks about the unrest in the town of Ferguson to residents, faith and community leaders during a forum held at Christ the King UCC Church in Florissant, Mo.
  • Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon speaks about the unrest in the town of Ferguson to residents, faith and community leaders during a forum held at Christ the King UCC Church in Florissant, Mo.
  • Forum attendees listen as residents, faith and community leaders discuss unrest in the town of Ferguson, Mo., during a forum held at Christ the King UCC Church.
  • President Barack Obama speaks to reporters in Edgartown, Mass., about developments in Iraq and the police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. Obama is vacationing on the island for about two weeks.
  • Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., speaks to the media after addressing a forum of residents, faith and community leaders at Christ the King UCC Church.
  • Tear gas canisters burst around a protester in Ferguson, Mo.Protests turned violent for a fourth night with people lobbing Molotov cocktails at police, who responded with smoke bombs and tear gas to disperse the crowd. A police shooting of unarmed Michael Brown, 18, sparked the protests.
  • Police advance through smoke on Aug. 13 in Ferguson, Mo.
  • A man watches as police walk through a cloud of smoke during a clash with protesters in Ferguson.
  • Police work their way north on West Florissant Avenue as they clear people off the road.
  • Police attempt to secure a street after a clash with protesters.
  • A man picks up a flaming bottle and prepares to throw it as a line of police advances.
  • A demonstrator holds up a Pan-African flag to protest the killing of Michael Brown.
  • A device fired by police goes off in the street as they battle demonstrators in Ferguson.
  • Janelle Pittman holds her daughter, Kat, in front of a police line.
  • Police officers face protesters.
  • Police watch over demonstrators.
  • A child -- who was being held by her mother during a protest -- holds up her hands after police order them off the street in Ferguson.
  • A police officer keeps watch over demonstrators.
  • Police in riot gear watch protesters.
  • A community activist tries to persuade a group of protesters to move back as police in riot gear watch.
  • A resident wears a button with a picture of Michael Brown during a news conference with Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson, who was fielding questions related to the shooting death of Brown.
  • Demonstrators protesting the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown hold up signs after they were ordered off the street in Ferguson, Mo.
  • A march organized by area ministers makes its way down West Florissant in Ferguson, Mo.
  • A small dog is held on a leash by a protester as police stand in riot gear.
  • Police watch as demonstrators protest.