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Minneapolis city leaders pleaded for calm one day after peaceful protests turned increasingly violent in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd during an arrest by police.

Mayor Jacob Frey repeated his calls for the governor to send assistance from the National Guard, and Police Chief Medaria Arradondo promised to work with local community leaders in hopes of keeping the ongoing protests more peaceful.

Wednesday night's protests began peacefully and escalated into gunfire, looting, and arson, with about 30 buildings reported ablaze, and countless others damaged. Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said Wednesday night's destruction eclipsed Tuesday's, which was focused solely around the 3rd Precinct, where the officers that responded to the call that resulted in Floyd's death worked.

There was also damage in nearby St. Paul.

To prepare for additional protests Thursday, city officials said they are establishing a command center that will allow various departments to communicate more efficiently both among themselves and with any other jursidictions that might assist, the Star Tribune reports.

George Floyd died after an arrest in which an officer pinned the 46-year-old man to the ground with his knee.

Citizen video of the incident was released on Facebook, and it shows Floyd repeatedly saying he could not breathe.