(BALTIMORE)  Gov. Larry Hogan signed an executive orderMonday declaring a state of emergency and activating the National Guard. And, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has issued a citywide curfew to start Tuesday night.

Speaking Monday evening, the mayor issued a curfew to start at 10 p.m. and last until 5 a.m. on school nights. The curfew starts at 9 p.m. for those 14 and under.

Police officers were injured, stores were looted and fires were set Monday evening as vandals ran through Baltimore.

City police say as many as 15 officers have been injured Monday afternoon in northwest Baltimore, where a large group of juveniles converged and began to throw bricks and other items at officers. The officers were injured with broken bones and cuts, and one was unresponsive.

The CVS store at North and Pennsylvania avenues was set on fire around 6:15 p.m. Police have asked motorists to avoid the area of North Avenue between Monroe Street and Druid Hill Avenue.

SkyTeam 11 video showed the same CVS was being looted around 4:45 p.m.

It all started at Mondawmin Mall, which closed early. SkyTeam 11 video showed a large group of juveniles congregating in the vicinity shortly before 3 p.m.

The violence later returned to the mall, where, police said, there have been reports of several people inside the mall, looting and destroying property.

Baltimore police Capt. Eric Kowalczyk said police are not speculating what the disturbances are related to, but are making sure people in the community and officers are safe.

“I know that the images people are seeing on TV are very disturbing. Our highest priority, our first focus right now is to protect the lives of our officers that are out on the street and the people that live and work in that area,” Kowalczyk said.

Kowalczyk said they know officers are in harm’s way, and are using tear gas and pepper balls.

“As the night goes on, you’re going to see us using tear gas and other crowd control techniques so that we can have this end peacefully without any more injuries to our officers or any of the people that are in that community,” Kowalczyk said.

A WBAL-TV 11 News crew at the mall reported juveniles were throwing rocks and other items. Rocks, bricks and broken glass lay strewn throughout the streets, and a recycling container was lit on fire.

According to police, several people in the group were reported to be armed with sticks, bricks and other weapons.

“The level of violence that you saw earlier today, the number of officers that we have that were injured, we can’t allow that to happen,” Kowalczyk said. “The people that are out there right now destroying other individuals’ cars, property, money businesses, we’re going to investigate and we’re going to find those people and we’re going to take people into custody.”

A large group surrounded a police car at North and Pennsylvania avenues, destroying the car, police said.

“The group is damaging additional police cars in the area. The group is aggressive and violent,” police tweeted.

A person inside the 7-Eleven store across from the mall told 11 News that a group of young people came into the store from the side and began throwing balls in the store, damaging things in the store and breaking bottles in the store. Some also stole items and then ran away. That person said a police officer was in the store being treated for an injury on his left hand.

A group was breaking into businesses and damaging property in the area of West North and Pennsylvania avenues.

“We don’t want to arrest any more people, we want to see this come to a peaceful resolution, we want people to go home, we want parents to get their children and to bring them home,” Kowalczyk said.

At the request of the Baltimore police commissioner, the Maryland State Police sent 42 troopers to Baltimore early Monday afternoon. At 4 p.m. Monday, another 40 troopers were ordered to duty and will be deploying to Baltimore early Monday evening to join the troopers already there. Troopers are being deployed where needed at the direction of Baltimore Police Department commanders.

Gov. Larry Hogan’s office released a statement Monday evening, saying: “Today’s looting and acts of violence in Baltimore will not be tolerated. In response, I have put the Maryland National Guard on alert so they can be in position to deploy rapidly as needed. I strongly condemn the actions of the offenders who are engaged in direct attacks against innocent civilians, businesses and law enforcement officers. There is a significant difference between protesting and violence and those committing these acts will be prosecuted under the fullest extent of the law.

“My thoughts and prayers go out to the men and women in uniform who are actively working to stem this violence and several who been injured in the line of duty. These malicious attacks against law enforcement and local communities only betray the cause of peaceful citizens seeking answers and justice following the death of Freddie Gray.”

Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County, Montgomery County and Prince George’s County police departments have sent dozens of officers to assist in Baltimore City.

Transit, Orioles game impacted by violence

The Maryland Transit Administration said the Mondawmin, Upton, Lexington Market, State Center and Penn North Metro stations are closed until further notice.

All southbound Light Rail service coming from Hunt Valley is being terminated at North Avenue. All northbound Light Rail service coming from BWI-Marshall Airport and Cromwell stations are suspended at the Patapsco light rail station.

After consultation with Baltimore City Police Department, Monday night’s game between the Orioles and the Chicago White Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards has been postponed.

Downtown businesses, institutions close early

Some businesses and institutions in downtown Baltimore closed early Monday. Among them included the University of Maryland-Baltimore and T. Rowe Price’s downtown offices, which closed at 2 p.m. “out of an abundance of caution.”

UMB officials said the campus was closing early at the recommendation of Baltimore police.

In an alert to students and staff, the university says “the safety of our students and employees is of paramount importance. Please vacate the campus as soon as possible.”

School spokesman Alex Likowski said he didn’t know what type of activity might be passing through campus or what prompted the warning from police.

At the recommendation of Baltimore police, Baltimore City Community College officials said the school closed at 3 p.m. Afternoon and evening classes at Coppin State University have been canceled. The University of Baltimore was closing at 5:30 p.m.

Shortly before 6 p.m., the Enoch-Pratt library system announced all its branches were closing.

Other businesses that closed early included Legg Mason and the National Aquarium in Baltimore. WBAL-TV 11 News reporter Karen Campbell said hotels in the area of Oriole Park at Camden Yards have locked their revolving doors.

Citing the threat of more unrest, school officials in Anne Arundel County and Baltimore County have canceled all school system field trips and weekend activities scheduled to be held at venues in Baltimore City through Sunday.

In Anne Arundel County, the cancellation affects about 40 planned trips by schools ranging from elementary to high school.

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