Ferguson, MO Update & News: Curfew and National Guard Troops, Store Owners Pleading with Protesters
- CH Smith
- Aug 18, 2014 04:27 PM EDT
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There will be no curfew tonight in Ferguson, even as the community continues to clean up from yet another night of violence, as reports people continue to document people attacking police and targeting stores for looting. In scenes from social media, residents and store owners were pleading with masked looters not to take advantage of the situation.
Derrick Robinson, a protester, told USA Today that he was disappointed at the looting that took place over the weekend. He told them that the goal of the looters was to burn down the market and liquor store where Michael Brown had allegedly shoplifted, according to police.
Gov. Jay Nixon had called in the National Guard over the weekend, declaring a state of emergency for the area, as protesters and others continue to react to the shooting death of unarmed Michael Brown by a Ferguson police officer named Darren Wilson, 28.
The 18-year-old Brown was reportedly shot six times, according to recently released autopsy information. Reports released by an independent medical examiner said that Brown was shot twice in his head, and that only one of the bullets was fatal. Other bullet wounds were located in his arms, which backs up witness accounts that Brown may have had his arms up when he was shot.
The U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has ordered a third autopsy, after another by the St. Louis County Medical Examiner's office found that Brown was shot six to eight times and allegedly had marijuana in his system, according to some reports.
Some 40 FBI agents are currently conducting a civil rights investigation in Ferguson. Still, none of the activity in investigation the Michael Brown shooting has led to much peace from the residents.
Police have said there were "pre-planned" attacks by protesters, according to USA Today, that went into the early hours of Monday. Molotov cocktails were thrown and police received some gun fire as businesses were looted, the report said. Further, there were descriptions of a "coordinated attempt" to block roads and overtake the police command center, according to the governors office.
"With these additional resources in place, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and local law enforcement will continue to respond appropriately to incident of lawlessness and violence," Nixon said in a statement, "And protect the civil rights of all peaceful citizens to make their voices heard."
In the statement, Nixon also said, "We are all frustrated and looking for justice to be achieved regarding the shooting death of Michael Brown." He called the reason for the recent upheaval the cause of "violent interlopers," and said that the investigation was still underway into the details of Michael Brown's shooting.
"Police were shot at, makeshift barricades were set up to block police, bottles and rocks were thrown at police," state highway patrol Chief Ron Johnson said.
At one point Sunday night, police were shooting at protesters as well as throwing tear gas, when shots rang out in the direction of the police, witnesses told media outlets.
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