Md. gov. declares state of emergency in Baltimore

BALTIMORE -- Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency in Baltimore and activated the state's National Guard Monday after demonstrations over the death of Freddy Gray gave way to violent crowds damaging several businesses, burning cars and injuring more than a dozen police officers.

The action took place several hours after the funeral for Freddie Gray, the 25-year-old who died from unexplained spinal injuries suffered during police custody.

At the same time, during a Monday evening press conference, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake implemented a 10 p.m. through 5 a.m. curfew citywide for the next week beginning Tuesday, which she said could be extended if necessary. The curfew is in addition to an existing one for juveniles.

"It is very clear there is a difference between what we saw over the past week with the peaceful protests...and the thugs who only want to incite violence and destroy our city," said Rawlings-Blake. "Too many people have spent generations building up this city for it to be destroyed by thugs who, in a very senseless way, are trying to tear down what so many have fought for."

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Baltimore mayor: City will not be destroyed by "thugs"

Gray's family had appealed for peace after demonstrations against police brutality and Gray's death turned violent Saturday evening. They asked protesters to hold off on demonstrating until Gray could be laid to rest.

But demonstrations soon gave way to a volatile crowd of apparently mostly high school age youths, as helicopters began capturing footage of groups of varying size hurling bricks and bottles at lines of heavily armored officers in multiple locations.

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Baltimore under siege

A flier circulated on social media called for a protest Monday afternoon to begin among high schoolers at the Mondawmin Mall and move downtown toward City Hall. It was intended to be peaceful but turned to violence before long, CBS Baltimore reported.

An official with the Baltimore Police Department said Monday evening that 15 officers have been severely injured so far, including one who was rendered unconscious. 

"We have been able to get our injured officers out of the area and they are now receiving medical treatment," according to a Twitter post from the Baltimore PD.

In the midst of the violence, a three-alarm fire on the city's east side, not far from Johns Hopkins Hospital broke out. Spokesman Kevin Harris confirmed that the fire is related to the riots and that it's burning the Mary Harvin Transformation Center, described online as a community-based organization that supports youth and families, the Associated Press reported.