Reporters on the scene in Ferguson say the protests erupted into chaos as police began firing tear gas at crowds of protestors Sunday night—well before the official curfew time was set to begin—hitting media and children in the abrupt offensive.

It's not clear what sparked the sudden violent turn just after 10 pm on Sunday. The St. Louis Police Department posted on Twitter around the same time that molotov cocktails had been thrown at officers, but reporters on the scene described a peaceful protest that quickly turned into a cloud of tear gas and piercing LRAD sounds.

Sports Illustrated's Robert Klemko—who was also briefly arrested Sunday night— suggested on Twitter that police may have been responding to a march past a southern barricade. He also writes that police are claiming their command center was attacked.

A private autopsy report on Michael Brown, which showed the teenager was shot at least six times, was also released Sunday night.

Walked past cops seconds before the barrage. They were putting on gas masks. Couldn't understand why #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/Ua1QK5qOn4 — Jon Swaine (@jonswaine) August 18, 2014

Police just threw tear gas at protestors."This is no longer a peaceful protest. You must leave the area," a police announcer says. #Ferguson — Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) August 18, 2014

absolute total chaos. multiple tear gas kids everywhere cops told me they're gonna keep launching insane — Amy K. Nelson (@AmyKNelson) August 18, 2014

Milk from #Ferguson McDonald's used to rinse eyes of woman affected by tear gas. http://t.co/0KQdSBjZTw pic.twitter.com/RG5LgEZY2V — Jim Roberts (@nycjim) August 18, 2014

Reporters on the scene say they were given no warning, trapped inside the protest perimeters and told to turn their cameras off. Police officers were caught on camera threatening to shoot KARG Argus Radio reporter Mustafa Hussein and threatening to mace MSNBC's Chris Hayes. At least two other reporters say they were arrested without cause.

I got tear-gassed good. Cop grabs me, drags me to truck and hands me water. "You media??" "YES" "hahahahaha Welcome to Ferguson!" — Robert Klemko (@RobertKlemko) August 18, 2014

Steady stream of gas and flashes being deployed by police. No warning, no press area established — Sean Stout (@TERROREYEStv) August 18, 2014

Just spoke with the @complex_news team, which were standing in a cordoned off press area that they TEAR GASSED. cc @ComplexMag. — Foster Kamer (@weareyourfek) August 18, 2014

My producer Cornell had to get off the phone because St. Louis PD were coming after them AGAIN. @stlcountypd WHY ARE YOU GASSING OUR CREW? — Foster Kamer (@weareyourfek) August 18, 2014

Cops literally just fired on what was the press area. We scrambled running. Cops continuing up neighborhood streets — Sean Stout (@TERROREYEStv) August 18, 2014

According to reports, children were also hit by tear gas during the offensive.

Whoa. This kid was just hit with tear gas. Mom is freaking out. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/5SHrdZvFqV — Amanda Terkel (@aterkel) August 18, 2014

Around midnight, there were reports on Twitter that a local market had been set on fire.

Chris Hayes also reported seeing an injured or dead body lying in the street after a car accident.

I'm looking at what appears to be a dead body in the middle of Chambers — Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) August 18, 2014

Eyewitness tells me it took an hour for ambulance. Police say two people involved; eyewitness says 4. 3 taken to hospital. 1 laid on ground — Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) August 18, 2014

[image via KARG Argus Radio Livestream]