Missouri declares state of emergency ahead of Ferguson shooting decision

A woman looks at a memorial in the middle of the street Monday, Nov. 17, 2014, more than three months after black teen Michael Brown was shot and killed there by a white policeman in Ferguson, Mo. (AP / Charlie Riedel)

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard in advance of a grand jury decision about whether a white police officer will be charged in the fatal shooting of a black 18-year-old in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson.

Nixon said Monday that the National Guard would assist state and local police as needed, in case there is civil unrest when the grand jury's decision is announced.

There was no indication an announcement is imminent. There is no specific date for a decision to be revealed about whether Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson should face charges for shooting Michael Brown on Aug. 9. The St. Louis County prosecutor has said he expects the grand jury to reach a decision in mid-to-late November.