Residents of Ferguson, Missouri will get to see more men in full military gear and armored vehicles in a few hours. And this time, they won't be policemen but real army soldiers. 

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has decided to deploy the Missouri State National Guard to maintain order in Ferguson, after Sunday night's protest related to the killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown turned more violent than any other night in the past week. The governor signed an executive order early Monday after police used tear gas in dispersing the crowd that had gathered in the area where Brown was shot on August 9th, for another night of protests.

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State governors have jurisdiction over their state National Guard, a reserve component of the U.S. military, and may call them to active duty to help respond to domestic emergencies and disasters. 

In ordering the National Guard deployment, Gov. Nixon said it was necessary to resort to these actions because protesters have fired at police and used molotov cocktails.  

"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," Nixon said in a statement. 

Police in anti-riot gear rushed demonstrators in the St. Louis suburb at around dusk Sunday, and fired tear gas cannisters to scatter them ahead of a scheduled curfew. Reporters on the scene said they heard gunshots that led people to drop to the ground, but it was not clear where the shots were coming from. 

Missouri Highway Patrol officers said "aggressors" were trying to infiltrate a law enforcement command post so they deployed armored vehicles to ensure safety. 

Demonstrators, some of whom brought children along, said they were moving peacefully and there was no reason to use tear gas and force them to clear the streets.

On Sunday also, Attorney General Eric Holder ordered a federal medical examiner to perform another autopsy on the body of Michael Brown, who was fatally shot by a police officer later identified as Darren Wilson.

A preliminary private autopsy released Sunday found that Brown was shot at least six times, including twice in the head. The autopsy was requested earlier by Brown's family. 

TagsMissouri, Ferguson, Gov. Jay Nixon