Tipsheet

Gov. Nixon Deploys More National Guard Units To Ferguson

In the aftermath of the chaos that erupted last night in Ferguson, Missouri, Gov. Jay Nixon is ordering more National Guard units to be present in the area tonight. In all, 2,200 Guardsmen will be working, along with local and state police, to prevent further violence (via AP):

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon says more than 2,200 National Guardsmen will be in place in the region near Ferguson on Tuesday night in the event of more violence.

He said Tuesday that hundreds more will be deployed to Ferguson, where fires and looting erupted Monday night after word that a grand jury decided not to indict a white police officer who fatally shot 18-year-old Michael Brown.

The rest will be in a position to respond rapidly, if needed.

Nixon says 700 guardsmen were in the area on Monday night, when more than a dozen buildings were set on fire and otherwise vandalized.

Ferguson's mayor said earlier in the day that the National Guard wasn't deployed quickly enough as violent protests broke out.

More protests are expected.