Obama calling for calm in Ferguson

(Updated) Results from a private autopsy into the fatal police shooting of an unarmed 18-year-old black man in Ferguson, Missouri show that Michael Brown was hit at least 6 times.

Late this afternoon U.S. President Barack Obama weighed in on the situation in Ferguson. After another night of clashes between police and protesters, Obama called for calm, saying a small minority of people are undermining peaceful demonstrations.

“While I understand the passions and the anger that arise over the death of Michael Brown, giving into that anger by looting or carrying guns or even attacking the police only serves to raise tensions and stir chaos.”

“It undermines rather than advancing justice.”

“Let me also be clear that our constitutional rights to speak freely, to assemble and to report in the press much be vigilantly safeguarded especially in times like these. There is no excuse for excessive force by police or any action that denies people the right to protest peacefully.”

Obama says he’ll be sending attorney general Eric Holder to Ferguson on Wednesday to meet with law enforcement. This comes after Holder ordered the U.S. justice department to conduct its own autopsy, citing the “extraordinary circumstances” surrounding brown’s shooting.

Obama says he’s been in talks with Missouri governor Jay Nixon, who called in National Guard troops today after police again used tear gas on protesters. Starting this afternoon, there was a show of greater force as troops moved into place.

Nixon ordered the increased security to help quell the escalating violence and to protect the police command center. With the presence of the national guard the governor has lifted a midnight curfew, hoping there will not be a repeat of last night’s violence.

Capt Ron Johnson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol: “Molotov cocktails were thrown. There were shootings, looting, vandalism an other acts of violence that clearly appear not to have been spontaneous but premeditated criminal acts.”

The clashes that erupted Sunday night are an all too familiar scene in Ferguson: police moving in with riot gear and tear gas as angry crowds challenge their authority.

Further heightening tensions: the results of a preliminary autopsy report, commissioned by the family, shows Michael Brown was shot multiple times — the fatal blow, to the top of the head.

Brown family attorney Benjamin Crump: “At least six shots, could be more, but at least six.”

The St Louis County medical examiner’s office has not released its report but confirmed to NBC News that he was shot more than once in the head and the chest.

Brown family attorney Daryl Parks: “We believe given those kind of facts this officer should have been arrested.”

The case is expected to go before a grand jury as early as Wednesday to determine if the police officer who killed Michael Brown will be charged. While it usually takes about a day to present to the grand jury, reports say because this case is so complicated it is expected to take longer.