Ferguson riots: Missouri governor sends in National Guard after police fire tear gas at protesters

Police take cover after gunshots ring out during a demonstration to protest the killing of teenager Michael Brown turned violent on Aug 17, 2014, in Ferguson, Missouri. -- PHOTO: AFP
Police take cover after gunshots ring out during a demonstration to protest the killing of teenager Michael Brown turned violent on Aug 17, 2014, in Ferguson, Missouri. -- PHOTO: AFP
Protesters throw rocks and attempt to block the street after protests in reaction to the shooting of Michael Brown turned violent near Ferguson, Missouri on Aug 17, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Police advance while sending a volley of tear gas toward demonstrators protesting the killing of teenager Michael Brown on Aug 17, 2014, in Ferguson, Missouri. -- PHOTO: AFP
A protester kicks a tear gas canister back towards police after protests in reaction to the shooting of Michael Brown turned violent near Ferguson, Missouri on Aug 17, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS 
Demonstrators gesture with their hands up after protests in reaction to the shooting of Michael Brown turned violent near Ferguson, Missouri on Aug 17, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Police launch tear gas at demonstrators protesting the killing of teenager Michael Brown on Aug 17, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon ordered the National Guard on Monday to help restore peace to the St Louis suburb of Ferguson, hours after police fired tear gas to disperse people protesting against the shooting of a black teenager by an officer. -- PHOTO: AFP

FERGUSON, Missouri (Reuters) - Missouri Governor Jay Nixon ordered the National Guard on Monday to help restore peace to the St Louis suburb of Ferguson, hours after police fired tear gas to disperse people protesting against the shooting of a black teenager by an officer.

"Tonight, a day of hope, prayers and peaceful protests was marred by the violent criminal acts of an organised and growing number of individuals, many from outside the community and state, whose actions are putting the residents and businesses of Ferguson at risk," Mr Nixon said in a statement on his website. As a result, Mr Nixon said, he was directing the National Guard to help "in restoring peace and order to this community".

In an executive order signed after midnight, Mr Nixon said he was dispatching the U.S. state militia to help restore peace after demonstrators threw Molotov cocktails and shot at police as well as a civilian, a description of the protest that differed widely from some eyewitness accounts.

The police in Ferguson said they faced coordinated attacks, including gunfire and Molotov cocktails, during protests over the shooting of a black teenager on Sunday, and defended their use of tear gas to try and quell the violence.

Hundreds of protesters fled to safety after authorities fired tear gas and canisters of smoke to disperse them hours ahead of a planned midnight curfew in the tense St. Louis suburb where Michael Brown, 18, was shot to death by white police officer Darren Wilson on Aug 9.

"Molotov cocktails were thrown, there were shootings, looting, vandalism, and other acts of violence that clearly appear not to have been spontaneous," Missouri State Highway Patrol's Captain Ron Johnson told a late night news briefing.

The "coordinated acts" by a few in the crowd were "premeditated criminal acts designed... to provoke a response," Capt Johnson added. He said the trouble began after the police responded to the shooting of a civilian at around 8.25pm. "I had no alternative but to elevate the level of our response."

At around dusk on Sunday, hundreds of protesters including young children fled to safety after police wearing gas masks and body armor fired canisters of smoke to scatter them hours ahead of a planned midnight curfew in suburban Ferguson, Missouri.

Gunfire was heard by a Reuters reporter and photographer but it was unclear where it was coming from.

A crowd of about 400 appeared to be marching peacefully, and included numerous families with children, when they were subjected to rounds of smoke canisters. "The smoke bombs were completely unprovoked," said Mr Anthony Ellis, 45. "It (the protest) was led by kids on bikes. Next you know, they're saying, 'Go home, Go home!'"

The Missouri Highway Patrol said "aggressors" were trying to infiltrate a law enforcement command post and that armored vehicles were deployed to ensure public safety. "We ordered them back. We ordered them back again. After several attempts, we utilized the smoke to disperse these individuals," said Highway Patrol Corporal Justin Wheetley.

Schools in Ferguson would be closed on Monday, officials said.

The midnight curfew was imposed for the second night in the tense St. Louis suburb hit by racially charged protests, violence and looting since Brown was shot to death.

Earlier on Sunday, US Attorney-General Eric Holder ordered a federal autopsy of Brown's body, seeking to assure the family and community there will be a thorough investigation.

The police say Brown was asked by officer Wilson to move off the road and onto a sidewalk and that Brown reached into a patrol car and struggled with officer Wilson for his service gun and was shot.

A friend of Brown's, Mr Dorian Johnson, 22, and at least one other witness said officer Wilson reached out through his car window to grab at Brown and the teenager was trying to get away when shot. Brown held up his hands in a sign of surrender but officer Wilson got out of his patrol car and shot Brown several times, they said.

A preliminary private autopsy, asked for by Brown's family, shows the teenager was shot at least six times, the New York Times reported on Sunday night.

Citing Dr Michael M. Baden, former chief medical examiner for the City of New York, the newspaper reported that Brown was shot twice in the head, and that the bullets that hit him did not appear to have been fired from very close range because no gunpowder was detected on his body.

That conclusion could change, however, if gunshot residue is found on Brown's clothing, the newspaper said.

The police in Ferguson have come under strong criticism for Brown's death and their handling of the aftermath.

Capt Johnson told hundreds of people at a local church for a rally on Sunday he was committed to protecting their right to protest. "I'm sorry," Johnson, who is black, told Brown's family during remarks that prompted repeated standing ovations at the rally. "My heart is heavy." The mood at the rally was somber as a choir sang gospel music at Greater Grace Church. Reverend Al Sharpton, the civil rights activist, asked participants to join hands and prepare themselves for difficult days ahead.

In St. Louis on Sunday, about 125 people attended a rally in support of officer Wilson, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said. Protesters held signs that read, "We love and support you Darren" and "Support our police. Pray for peace." Police also used smoke canisters and tear gas on Saturday to disperse protesters who refused to leave the area when the midnight-to-5 a.m. curfew began. Seven protesters were arrested after failing to disperse.

Mr Nixon, a Democrat, criticized Ferguson police for releasing a video on Friday purporting to show Brown taking part in a convenience store robbery shortly before the shooting. Police have said the officer who shot Brown had no idea he was a robbery suspect.

As disturbances continued in Missouri, 500 people protested outside police headquarters in Los Angeles on Sunday over the shooting death of an unarmed black man in California a week ago.

That rally was peaceful, with many holding up signs reading,"Hands up, don't shoot," in reference to witness reports that Brown had his hands up when he was shot in Ferguson.

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