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"FERGUSON, Mo. \u2014 The first night of a state-imposed curfew in Ferguson ended with tear gas and seven arrests, after police in riot gear used armored vehicles to disperse protesters who refused to leave a St. Louis suburb where a black, unarmed teen had been shot by a white police officer a week earlier.\nMissouri State Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson said protesters weren't the reason for the escalated police reaction early Sunday morning after the midnight curfew took effect, but a report of people who had broken into a barbecue restaurant and a man who flashed a handgun in the street as armored vehicles approached the crowd of protesters.\nSee also: Justice Department Orders Second Autopsy of Michael Brown, Missouri Gov. Criticizes Ferguson PD\nAlso overnight, a man was shot and critically wounded in the same area, but not by police; authorities were searching for the shooter. Someone also shot at a police car, officials said.\nThe protests have been going on since 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot and killed Aug. 9 by a white Ferguson officer, Darren Wilson. The death heightened racial tensions between the predominantly black community and mostly white Ferguson Police Department, leading to several confrontations between protesters and heavily armed police. \nIn an effort to reduce tensions, Missouri's governor on Thursday put the Highway Patrol in charge of security.\nSee also: Twitter Cofounder Jack Dorsey Marches With Ferguson Protesters\nThe arrests early Sunday occurred after police received a report that people broke into Red's Barbecue and some were on the roof \u2014 creating a potential danger for officers trying to disperse the protesters. Police were responding to that report \u2014 not the fact that protesters were still on the street after curfew, Johnson said at a pre-dawn briefing.\n\nProtesters defy curfew early Sunday police fired smoke and tear gas canisters. Image: Charlie Riedel/Associated PressThings got worse when a man with a handgun went into the street as police were nearing the restaurant. He ran away, but there was plenty of violence.\n\"I was disappointed in the actions of tonight,\" Johnson said. He said it was unclear whether the wounded person was a protester, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.\nThose arrested, he said, would be charged with failure to disperse.\nBelow is a video recorded after the curfew of police firing tear gas in an effort to disperse the protesters.\nPolice used smoke and tear gas on protesters who refused to move back, essentially ending the confrontation nearly an hour after the midnight curfew. Seven people were arrested for failure to disperse.\nSaturday marked a week since a white Ferguson officer, Darren Wilson, shot and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown on Aug. 9. The shooting ignited racial tension in the mostly-black suburb and has led to looting and several run-ins between police and protesters.\nAs the curfew deadline arrived Sunday, remaining protesters \u2014 chanting \"No justice! No curfew!\" \u2014 refused to leave the area. And as five armored tactical vehicles approached the crowd, officers spoke through a loudspeaker: \"You are in violation of a state-imposed curfew. You must disperse immediately. Failure to comply, may result in arrest.\"\n\nConfirmed that CS was fired. I found this on site pic.twitter.com/zIccOLWKtD\n\u2014 Ben Kesling (@bkesling) August 17, 2014\n\nAs officers put on gas masks, a chant from the distant crowd emerged: \"We have the right to assemble peacefully.\"\nA moment later, police began firing canisters into the crowd of protesters.\nHighway Patrol Spokesman Lt. John Hotz initially said police only used smoke, but later told The Associated Press that they also fired tear gas canisters. He said of police efforts: \"Obviously, we're trying to give them every opportunity to comply with the curfew.\"\nJayson Ross, who was leading the protesters toward police before the canisters were fired, said: \"They got guns. We got guns. We are ready.\"\n\nProtesters refusing curfew in #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/LLVCsyE6rZ\n\u2014 Ben Kesling (@bkesling) August 17, 2014\n\nThe unrest between police and protesters came after Gov. Jay Nixon on Saturday declared a state of emergency in Ferguson.\nNixon's curfew announcement came after tensions again flared in Ferguson late Friday night. Earlier that day, local police identified the officer who shot Brown as Darren Wilson and released documents and video footage alleging that Brown had robbed a convenience store just before he was shot. Police said Wilson was unaware Brown was a suspect when he encountered him walking in the street with a friend.\nIn announcing the curfew, Nixon said that though many protesters were making themselves heard peacefully, the state would not allow looters to endanger the community.\n\"I am committed to making sure the forces of peace and justice prevail,\" Nixon said during a press conference at a church that was interrupted repeatedly by people objecting to the curfew and demanding that the officer who shot Brown be charged with murder.\n\"We must first have and maintain peace. This is a test. The eyes of the world are watching,\" Nixon said. \"We cannot allow the ill will of the few to undermine the good will of the many.\"\nState statute gives the governor broad powers when he declares a state of emergency, but he hasn't indicated that he plans to do anything other than imposing the curfew and empowering the state highway patrol to enforce it.\n\nProtesters gather in Ferguson Saturday night, before curfew was imposed.Image: Charlie Riedel/Associated PressMeanwhile, Nixon said the U.S. Department of Justice is beefing up its civil rights investigation of the shooting.\nMissouri State Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson, who is in charge of security in Ferguson, said 40 FBI agents were going door-to-door in the neighborhood starting Saturday, talking to people who might have seen or have information about the shooting.\nJohnson on Saturday said police would not enforce the curfew with armored trucks and tear gas but would communicate with protesters and give them ample opportunity to leave. Local officers faced strong criticism earlier in the week for their use of tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters. Johnson said one tear gas canister was deployed Friday night after the group of rioters became unruly and several officers got trapped and injured.\nBrown's death had already ignited several days of clashes with furious protesters. Tensions eased Thursday after Nixon turned oversight of the protests over to the Missouri Highway Patrol. Gone were the police in riot gear and armored vehicles, replaced by the new patrol commander who personally walked through the streets with demonstrators. But Friday night marked a resurgence of unrest.\nOn Saturday, some residents said it appeared the violent acts were being committed by people who came from other suburbs or states.\nWilson, the officer who shot Brown, is a six-year police veteran who had no previous complaints against him, the local police chief has said.\nThe Ferguson Police Department has refused to say anything about Wilson's whereabouts, and Associated Press reporters were unable to contact him at any addresses or phone numbers listed under that name in the St. Louis area.\nWilson has been on paid administrative leave since the shooting. St. Louis County prosecutor Bob McCulloch said it could be weeks before the investigation wraps up.\nHave something to add to this story? 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<http://mashable.com/2014/08/17/seven-arrested-in-ferguson-in-confrontation-with-police-after-curfew/>