Michael Brown’s parents are suing Ferguson authorities over their son’s death.
Michael Brown, 18, was shot dead by Ferguson police in August 2014.
The wrongful-death suit seeks a minimum of $75,000 compensation.
The shooting of the unarmed Michael Brown by white police officer Darren Wilson in Missouri became a national cause and sparked protests, some violent.
The shooting was reviewed by a grand jury, which decided in November not to charge Darren Wilson.
However, Michael Brown’s parents say they have new forensic evidence that raises questions about the police version of events.
“The narrative of the law enforcement all across the country for shooting unarmed people of color is the same: That they had no other choice,” attorney Benjamin Crump said.
“But time and time again, the objective evidence contradicts the standard police narrative.”
Along with seeking punitive damages from the City of Ferguson, the suit also calls for a court order prohibiting the use of police techniques “that demean, disregard, or under-serve its African-American population”.
A St Louis County grand jury and the Department of Justice had declined to prosecute Darren Wilson, who resigned in November. Civil cases generally require a lower standard of proof than criminal cases.
This is not the only current civil case involving the police killing of an unarmed black man. In New York, the family of Eric Garner is seeking $75 million in damages.
Two police officers have been shot in Ferguson, Missouri, where unarmed black teenager Michael Brown was killed in August 2014.
One officer was shot in the face and one in the shoulder, St Louis County police chief Jon Belmar said.
Both suffered “very serious gunshot injuries” but were conscious, he said.
The officers were shot following the resignation of Ferguson’s police chief, Thomas Jackson, after a federal report alleged widespread racial bias in his department.
Protesters had gathered outside Ferguson police headquarters on March 11, in what was initially a relatively low-key demonstration.
Photo St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Shortly after midnight at least three shots were fired as the crowd of protesters was starting to break up, Jon Belmar said.
He said he was assuming that “these shots were directed exactly at my police officers”, rather than the officers being hit by stray bullets.
One protester, Keith Rose, said he saw an officer “covered in blood”, and that other officers were carrying and dragging him, leaving a trail of blood on the ground.
Police were keeping protesters in the area in order to take witness statements, Jon Belmar said.
Demonstrators were calling for further action to be taken over the federal report, and for more resignations in the police department, Keith Rose said.
Police chief Thomas Jackson was the sixth Ferguson official to be fired or step down. He had initially resisted calls from protesters and some state leaders to resign.
Ferguson’s police department was widely criticized after the shooting of Michael Brown in August and the weeks of demonstrations that followed.
In November, a St Louis County grand jury and the US Justice Department found that Officer Darren Wilson did not break any laws when he shot Brown.
However, Michael Brown’s shooting and the riots that followed spurred a federal investigation, which found overwhelming racial bias in the town’s policing practices.
US Attorney General Eric Holder has said the federal government will “use all power that we have to change the situation”.
That could include dissolving the police force and turning over law enforcement responsibilities to neighboring agencies.
The parents of Michael Brown, the unarmed black teenager shot dead by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, are to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the city, a family lawyer has said.
Michael Brown, 18, was killed in August 2014 by Officer Darren Wilson, sparking nationwide protests.
On March 4, the US justice department said it would not prosecute Darren Wilson in federal court.
It said it had found racial bias and illegal actions by Ferguson police.
“He did not have to kill Michael Brown,” lawyer Daryl Parks said of Darren Wilson.
The justice department report said police in the St Louis suburb of Ferguson overwhelmingly arrested and issued citations to black people to boost city revenues through fines and court fees.
That created a culture of distrust, the report concluded.
Demonstrators gathered outside the Ferguson Police Department on March 4 when the decision not to charge Darren Wilson was made.
In November, a St Louis County grand jury declined to charge Darren Wilson, who has since left the police department.
The US Department of Justice will not bring civil rights charges against Officer Darren Wilson who killed unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.
DoJ officials told the New York Times, who first reported the story, the investigation had concluded.
Michael Brown, 18, was shot by Officer Darren Wilson in August, sparking nationwide protests.
A separate investigation into alleged discriminatory policing by the Ferguson police department remains open.
A grand jury decided not to bring criminal charges against Darren Wilson in 2014, prompting further unrest in the St Louis suburb and elsewhere.
Now it appears that investigators will not recommended federal charges either, although the decision is ultimately up to outgoing US Attorney General Eric Holder.
In order to bring federal charges, the justice department would need to show Darren Wilson intentionally deprived Michael Brown of his civil rights – and prove he used more force than the law allowed.
Experts say the standard is difficult to meet and many high-profile cases have not resulted in similar charges.
In a statement, Michael Brown’s family said they would wait for official word from the justice department before commenting.
Councilman Antonio French, who has been outspoken during the protests, told CNN he thinks many will be disappointed if no charges are brought.
Michael Brown’s stepfather is being investigated for inciting illegal activity during protests in Ferguson.
Video of Louis Head shows him yelling: “Burn this [place] down!” before last week’s riots over perceived racial injustice in the Missouri town.
Louis Head spoke as a grand jury announced no charges for a white police officer who shot and killed the unarmed teenager.
The incident sparked a nationwide dialogue about race relations.
St Louis County Police spokesman Brian Schellman told reporters on December 2 that authorities want to talk to Louis Head about his comments amid a larger investigation into arson and looting during the Ferguson protests.
Twelve commercial buildings were destroyed by fire that night, after the jury’s decision was announced.
Family attorney Benjamin Crump has called Louis Head’s recorded comments “raw emotion”.
The officer who shot 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Darren Wilson, resigned from the force over the weekend.
The policeman said he had feared for his life, but Michael Brown’s supporters said the teenager was attempting to surrender when he was shot.
The investigation into Louis Head comes one day after President Barack Obama requested $263 million to improve police training, pay for body cameras and restore trust in policing.
President Barack Obama has asked Congress to approve $263 million to improve police training, pay for body cameras and restore trust in policing.
Barack Obama asked Congress for the funds after a week of nationwide protests over perceived policing injustices.
Ferguson in Missouri was rocked by riots after a grand jury decided not to charge a white police officer in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man.
Protests spread across the US and a mass walkout was held on December 1.
Students and workers held a lunchtime protest in several cities to highlight the issue.
“This is not a problem just of Ferguson, Missouri. This is a national problem, “ Barack Obama said.
The president spoke after a day of meetings with mayors, civil rights leaders and law enforcement officials at the White House.
They discussed a program that currently provides redundant US military tactical gear to local police departments, free of charge.
Barack Obama said he has asked federal agencies for recommendations to ensure the program is not building a “militarized culture” in domestic police forces.
Police in Ferguson, Missouri, were criticized for being heavy-handed in dealing with protests sparked by the shooting of Michael Brown in August.
The funds requested by Barack Obama would be spread over three years and some of the money will go towards purchasing 50,000 body cameras for police officers as well as resources to reform law enforcement departments.
Body cameras can provide evidence of encounters between police and civilians, particularly in disputed cases such as the Ferguson shooting.
The president said the stories of discrimination that young people had told him at the White House on December 1 “violate my belief about what America can do”.
Barack Obama also unveiled a taskforce on modern policing, to be chaired by Philadelphia police commissioner Charles Ramsey.
Also on Monday, a commission tasked with making recommendations on issues stemming from the fatal shooting has convened in Ferguson.
The 16-member panel, stood up by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, will consider changes in areas including public interaction with law enforcement and community stability.
The officer who shot Michael Brown in Ferguson, Darren Wilson, resigned from the force over the weekend.
The decision not to charge Darren Wilson days earlier triggered a nationwide debate over relations between black communities and law enforcement.
The policeman said he had feared for his life.
Michael Brown’s supporters said the teenager was attempting to surrender when he was shot. Some witnesses said the 18-year-old, who was unarmed, had his hands up.
Officer Darren Wilson, who fatally shot unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, on August 9, has resigned from police force, his lawyer Neil Bruntrager says.
Neil Bruntrager told media the resignation was effective immediately.
Darren Wilson himself has been quoted by as saying he had taken the step because of threats of violence if he stayed.
Ferguson and other US towns and cities saw rioting after a jury decided Darren Wilson, 28, should not be charged.
The August 9 shooting in the St Louis suburb and last week’s state grand jury decision triggered a nationwide debate over relations between black communities and law enforcement.
The St Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper said Darren Wilson had decided to step down after his police department received threats that violence would follow if he stayed on as an employee.
The newspaper published what it said was his resignation letter, which read: “I have been told that my continued employment may put the residents and police officers of the City of Ferguson at risk, which is a circumstance that I cannot allow.
“For obvious reasons, I wanted to wait until the grand jury made their decision before I officially made my decision to resign.
“It was my hope to continue in police work, but the safety of other police officers and the community are of paramount importance to me. It is my hope that my resignation will allow the community to heal.”
In a subsequent telephone interview on Saturday evening, the paper quoted Darren Wilson as saying: “I’m resigning of my own free will. I’m not willing to let someone else get hurt because of me.”
He added that resigning was “the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do”.
Earlier this week, Darren Wilson told media that before the shooting, Michael Brown had pushed him back into his car, hit him and grabbed at his drawn gun, and said that he felt “like a five-year-old holding on to Hulk Hogan”.
The policeman said he had feared for his life.
Michael Brown’s supporters said he was attempting to surrender to the policeman when he was shot. Some witnesses said the teenager, who was unarmed, had his hands up.
However, the state prosecutor said physical evidence had contradicted some of the witness statements.
Michael Brown was killed after being shot six or seven times.
Many in the African-American community had called for Darren Wilson to be charged with murder, but after three months of deliberation a Missouri grand jury – of nine white and three black members – made no recommendation of charges.
The decision means Darren Wilson will not face state criminal charges over the shooting.
The US justice department has also launched a federal investigation into whether Darren Wilson violated Michael Brown’s civil rights.
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has reportedly rejected calls for a new grand jury to decide whether to charge Officer Darren Wilson for killing Michael Brown.
It follows two days of unrest in St Louis and 12 other cities over a ruling not to charge Darren Wilson for the killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown.
Demonstrations appeared to dwindle on November 26 amid heavy snowfall on the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday.
A handful of protesters remain in Ferguson, where Michael Brown was killed.
The family of Michael Brown said they were left “crushed” by the ruling, which has triggered nationwide debates over relations between black communities and law enforcement.
A spokesman for state governor Jay Nixon said he would not entertain the idea of bringing in a special prosecutor to present the case to a new grand jury, the St Louis Post reports.
Earlier, Jay Nixon said the “ramped up presence” of the National Guard – which more than tripled from 700 to 2,200 on Tuesday night – in the St Louis suburb had been “helpful”.
He said he would continue to monitor the situation to see if more resources were needed.
Monday’s ruling by a grand jury not to charge Darren Wilson led to violent protests and looting in Ferguson, and dozens of arrests.
Anger spread to 12 other cities, including Philadelphia, New York, Cleveland, Los Angeles and Boston.
In Oakland, California, rallies turned violent when protesters started a street fire, while in Los Angeles there were reports of 130 people arrested.
Business owners and residents were seen clearing up the streets of Ferguson on November 26.
Some celebrities are reportedly calling for a boycott to take place on Black Friday – one of the country’s busiest shopping days after Thanksgiving – over the grand jury ruling.
Michael Brown’s family say they are “crushed” by the grand jury’s decision not to charge Officer Darren Wilson.
Michael Brown Sr. told NBC news his son’s character had been “crucified”.
Separately, Michael Brown’s mother said Darren Wilson had been “disrespectful”.
Darren Wilson, who shot dead Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, on August 9, has told ABC he has a “clean conscience”.
There were protests over the ruling in 13 US cities on Tuesday night.
In Ferguson, there was some unrest as protesters scuffled with police, and a police car outside the town hall was set alight.
However, police said security was “much better” than Monday, when there was widespread rioting and looting, and more than a dozen buildings were set alight.
About 2,000 National Guard troops were deployed in the city on Tuesday night, up from 700 on Monday. Forty-four people were arrested.
Rallies in the area continued on November 26, as at least 200 protesters gathered outside St Louis City Hall, holding a mock trial for Darren Wilson.
Some demonstrators stormed the hall, shouting “shame, shame”, and forcing police to lockdown the building, AP news agency reported. Two people were reportedly arrested.
Anger at the ruling has spread to cities across the US.
Protests were reported on Tuesday night in 12 cities, in addition to Ferguson: Philadelphia, Seattle, Albuquerque, New York, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Oakland, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Portland, Chicago and Boston.
Those demonstrations were mostly peaceful, but rioting broke out in Oakland, California, where protesters started a street fire.
In Los Angeles, 130 protesters were arrested for disorderly conduct, the LA Times reported.
Police also arrested several demonstrators in Boston, Atlanta and New York, Reuters said.
Ferguson protests have spread across the US after the grand jury’s decision not to charge white policeman Darren Wilson who shot black teenager Michael Brown.
Demonstrations from New York to Seattle were mostly peaceful but rioting broke out in Oakland, California.
There was some unrest in Ferguson itself, with police making 44 arrests, but the town did not see rioting on the scale of Monday night.
Officer Darren Wilson says he has a “clean conscience”.
Darren Wilson, who shot 18-year-old Michael Brown on August 9, told ABC News that in the struggle which preceded the shooting, he had felt “like a five-year-old holding on to [US wrestler] Hulk Hogan”.
Many in Ferguson’s predominantly African-American community had called for Darren Wilson to be charged with murder, but the grand jury’s decision means the police officer will not face state criminal charges over the shooting.
Lawyers for Michael Brown’s family denounced the grand jury’s decision as “unfair” while condemning the violence that followed the decision.
St Louis County police chief Jon Belmar said November 25 had been “generally a much better night” in Ferguson, a town of 21,000 people.
Tear gas was fired just once, he said, when rioters smashed windows at the Ferguson town hall. There was only one report of shooting, he added, when a car was set alight.
Some 2,200 National Guard soldiers were deployed to assist police in keeping order in and around the town.
Protests were reported in 12 cities: St Louis itself as well as Seattle, Albuquerque, New York, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Oakland, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Portland, Chicago and Boston.
In Oakland, in the San Francisco Bay area, rioters vandalized police cars and businesses in the centre during a second night of unrest in the port city of 406,000 people.
Looting was reported in several locations, including a classic car dealership and a mobile phone store, while a main road was briefly blocked, the US broadcaster CBS reports.
Speaking from Chicago on November 25, President Barack Obama said there was “no excuse” for destructive behavior and criminal acts of rioting, adding that those responsible should be prosecuted.
The frustration seen by the grand jury’s decision, the president said, had “deep roots in many communities of color who have a sense that our laws are not being enforced uniformly or fairly”.
Barack Obama said he had ordered Attorney General Eric Holder to look at what steps could be taken to build trust in communities and make sure that “law enforcement is fair”.
Much of the debate since August has centered on whether Michael Brown was attempting to surrender to Darren Wilson when he was shot.
Speaking to ABC News in his first public comments, Darren Wilson said there was nothing he could have done differently.
“The reason I have a clean conscience is because I know I did my job right,” he said.
Darren Wilson denied witness statements that Michael Brown had put his hands up, insisting race had played no part in the confrontation.
Michael Brown’s lawyers have denounced the process that cleared police officer Darren Wilson who killed the 18-year-old as “unfair”.
Attorney Benjamin Crump said the process was “broken” a day after a grand jury opted not to send white police officer Darren Wilson to trial.
Michael Brown was killed on August 9 in Ferguson, Missouri, sparking unrest.
A police chief said violence that followed the yesterday’s verdict was worse than any the St Louis suburb had seen.
More than 80 people were arrested amid riots across several areas of St Louis. Sixty-one of those arrests were in Ferguson, with charges including burglary and trespassing.
Civil rights leader Al Sharpton, who attended a news conference with Michael Brown’s family, criticized the prosecutor’s decision to announce the verdict late at night on Monday, saying it was “irresponsible”.
Al Sharpton said the jury had “broken our hearts” but he vowed to continue “to fight for a new level of accountability of policing in this country”.
Violent protests were not in the spirit of Michael Brown, Al Sharpton added, saying the young man would not “be remembered for the ashes of buildings burning in Ferguson”.
Instead, he said Michael Brown’s family would push for new legislation to protect citizens and support a “Michael Brown law” that required all police officers to wear body video cameras.
Many in Ferguson’s predominantly African-American community had called for Darren Wilson to be charged with murder, but a Missouri grand jury – of nine white and three black members – made no recommendation of charges.
Lawyers for the Brown family criticized the decision to call a grand jury rather than appointing a special prosecutor and accused state prosecutor Robert McCulloch of seeking to “discredit the victim”.
“We could see what the outcome was going to be and that is what occurred last night,” Benjamin Crump told reporters.
“This process is broken. This process should be indicted,” he added.
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon tried to head off further riots on November 25 by ordering National Guard reinforcements to take to the streets of St Louis.
“The violence we saw in areas of Ferguson last night is unacceptable,” Jay Nixon said in a statement.
“That is why today I am meeting with leaders from the Guard and law enforcement to ensure the protection of lives and property.”
Much of the debate since August has centered on whether Michael Brown was attempting to surrender to Darren Wilson when he was shot, but Robert McCulloch said physical evidence had contradicted some of the witness statements.
The jury was made up of 12 randomly picked citizens from the state of Missouri. At least nine votes were needed in order to issue an indictment.
Michael Brown’s family could yet file a wrongful-death lawsuit against Darren Wilson, who is currently on paid leave.
The Ferguson grand jury’s decision not to bring charges over the killing of Michael Brown sparked violence in the St Louis suburb.
A local police chief said the violence was “probably much worse than the worst night we ever had in August” after the black teenager was killed.
St Louis county police chief Jon Belmar said he had heard 150 shots fired by crowds.
Michael Brown was shot by white police officer Darren Wilson on August 9, sparking protests.
Many in the African American community had called for Darren Wilson to be charged with murder.
President Barack Obama joined Michael Brown’s family on November 24 in appealing for calm, urging Americans to accept the decision was “the grand jury’s to make”.
“I didn’t see a lot of peaceful protest out there tonight, and I’m disappointed about that,” Jon Belmar said.
“Unfortunately this spun out of control.”
Most of at least a dozen burned businesses were “total losses”, he said, and two police cars had been “basically melted”.
“I don’t think we were underprepared,” he added.
“But I’ll be honest with you, unless we bring 10,000 policemen in here, I don’t think we can prevent folks who really are intent on destroying a community.”
Some protesters charged barricades and taunted police. Chants of “murderer” could be heard.
Police responded with smoke and tear gas.
After the situation calmed down, he added, he hoped there would be an “opportunity to really grow and change a lot of things, and make sure [Michael Brown’s] death didn’t mean nothing”.
Explaining the jurors’ decision, state prosecutor Robert McCulloch said their job had been to separate fact from fiction, and that some witness statements had been contradicted by physical evidence.
“These grand jurors poured their hearts and soul into this process,” he said.
Protesters have been chanting, “Hands up, don’t shoot” – a reference to statements by some witnesses who said Michael Brown had had his hands up in apparent surrender to the officer when he was shot.
Police say there was a struggle between Michael Brown and Darren Wilson before the shooting.
In his own testimony, Darren Wilson says that before the shooting Michael Brown pushed him back into his car, hit him and briefly grabbed his drawn gun.
The jury was made up of 12 randomly picked citizens – nine white and three black.
At least nine votes were needed in order to issue an indictment.
A grand jury has made a decision over whether to charge Officer Darren Wilson over the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.
Michael Brown’s family confirmed that the jury’s decision is expected to be announced later on Monday.
Michael Brown, 18, was killed by Darren Wilson on August 9 in the St Louis suburb of Ferguson.
The teenager’s death sparked protests, sometimes violent, as police were criticized for using military grade riot gear.
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has declared a state of emergency in the area and called in 400 National Guard troops in anticipation of protests, should charges not be filed in the case.
A White House spokesman said that President Barack Obama had urged those who wished to protest against the jury’s decision to “do so peacefully”.
The case has stoked racial tensions in the US, with many in the African American community calling for Darren Wilson to be charged with murder.
Witnesses say Michael Brown had his hands up in apparent surrender to the officer when he was shot.
Police have said there was a struggle between the teenager and the officer before the shooting.
Protests have continued in the area over the past few days in anticipation of a grand jury decision, including in Clayton, where the grand jury is meeting.
Police have put up barricades around the court house, while many shops in Ferguson have boarded up their windows ahead of the announcement.
Michael Brown’s family has appealed for calm ahead of a grand jury decision against the officer.
His father, Michael Brown Sr., said “hurting others or destroying property it not the answer” in a video posted online.
On November 24, the family called for four-and-half-minutes of silence following the jury’s decision, according to a spokeswoman for the mayor of St Louis.
Correspondents say that leaks from the grand jury testimony, including the official autopsy report, indicate there may be no indictment.
The grand jury is responsible for deciding whether Darren Wilson should be charged with any one of four possible crimes: first-degree murder, second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter.
Nine out of the 12 members of this jury must vote yes to indict.
The jury consists of 12 randomly picked impartial citizens – six white men, three white women, one black man and two black women.
If the grand jury decides not to indict, the state prosecutor, Robert McCulloch, could still bring a case against Darren Wilson.
However, Robert McCulloch has already said he would not do this, but would seek permission to release as much information as possible so the public could understand the decision.
Michael Brown’s father has appealed for calm ahead of a grand jury decision against Officer Darren Wilson.
Michael Brown, a black teenager, was shot dead by police in Ferguson, Missouri, on August 9.
His father said “hurting others or destroying property it not the answer” in a video posted online.
Michael Brown, 18, was killed by white Officer Darren Wilson following an altercation.
There were more protests overnight and two people arrested as demonstrators gathered outside the police station.
President Barack Obama has joined the calls for calm.
He told ABC News: “This is a country that allows everybody to express their views. Allows them to peacefully assemble, to protest actions that they think are unjust.
“But using any event as an excuse for violence is contrary to rule of law and contrary to who we are.”
Late on Friday, the FBI arrested two men suspected of purchasing explosives for use in protests, CBS News reported.
US Attorney General Eric Holder earlier urged police in the area to show restraint, providing new guidance on how to maintain public safety while protecting free speech rights.
A St Louis County grand jury is currently weighing criminal charges against the officer involved in the shooting. No word has yet been given on when a decision will be announced.
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has declared a state of emergency in the area and called in 400 National Guard troops in anticipation of protests should charges not be filed in the case.
The case has stoked racial tensions in the US, with many in the African American community calling for Darren Wilson to be charged with murder.
Darren Wilson, meanwhile, has maintained he acted in self-defense.
Initial protests in August turned violent as demonstrators clashed with local police using military-grade riot gear.
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has activated the state’s National Guard in anticipation of a grand jury decision over the killing of Michael Brown.
In a statement, Jay Nixon said the guard will “support law enforcement’s efforts to maintain peace”.
A panel is deciding whether to charge Officer Darren Wilson in the August death of black teenager Michael Brown.
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has activated the state’s National Guard in anticipation of a grand jury decision over the killing of Michael Brown
No specific date for the jury’s decision has been given.
Michael Brown, 18, was shot and killed by Darren Wilson in August after a confrontation in Ferguson, a majority-black suburb of St Louis.
His death set off protests, sometimes violent, in the area. Ferguson police and other law enforcement were criticized for being heavily armed and using excessive force during protests.
According to forensic evidence, Michael Brown’s blood was found on the gun, uniform and inside the car of Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, law enforcement officials told the Washington Post.
Authorities believe the forensic evidence potentially corroborate Darren Wilson’s story that the unarmed 18-year-old tried to take his gun.
The evidence will make it harder for the Justice Department to prosecute Officer Darren Wilson on federal charges that he violated Michael Brown’s civil rights, said the officials.
Michael Brown’s blood was found on the gun, uniform and inside the car of Officer Darren Wilson
Such evidence would also make it difficult for a county grand jury to indict Darren Wilson on state charges, such as murder or manslaughter, said county sources who also are prohibited from talking on the record about the pending case.
The St. Louis County police, the FBI and a county grand jury are investigating the shooting. The Justice Department is investigating Ferguson and St. Louis County policing practices and whether they have violated the rights of residents.
Darren Wilson, who is white, fatally shot Michael Brown, an African American, on August 9 in the majority black St. Louis suburb of Ferguson.
Officer Darren Wilson, who fatally shot Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, on August 9, has told investigators that he was pinned in his vehicle and in fear for his life as he struggled over his gun with the teenager.
Darren Wilson has told the authorities that during the scuffle, Michael Brown reached for the gun. It was fired twice in the car, according to forensics tests performed by the FBI. The first bullet struck Michael Brown in the arm and the second bullet missed.
The forensics tests showed Michael Brown’s blood on the gun, as well as on the interior door panel and on Officer Darren Wilson’s uniform.
Darren Wilson told the authorities that Michael Brown had punched and scratched him repeatedly, leaving swelling on his face and cuts on his neck.
Officer Darren Wilson fatally shot Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, on August 9
This is the first public account of Darren Wilson’s testimony to investigators, but it does not explain why, after he emerged from his vehicle, he fired at Michael Brown multiple times. It contradicts some witness accounts, and it will not calm those who have been demanding to know why an unarmed man was shot a total of six times.
Michael Brown’s death continues to fuel anger and sometimes-violent protests.
In September, Darren Wilson appeared for four hours before a St. Louis County grand jury, which was convened to determine whether there is probable cause that he committed a crime. Legal experts have said that his decision to testify was surprising, given that it was not required by law. But the struggle in the car may prove to be a more influential piece of information for the grand jury, one that speaks to Officer Darren Wilson’s state of mind, his feeling of vulnerability and his sense of heightened alert when he killed Michael Brown.
Police officers typically have wide latitude to use lethal force if they reasonably believe that they are in imminent danger.
At least 17 people have been arrested in St Louis, Missouri, during a weekend of planned protests against police shootings.
Demonstrators were held for unlawful assembly after staging a sit-in outside a convenience store early on Sunday, October 12.
Thousands of people in Missouri have taken part in rallies and vigils as part of a four-day event named Ferguson October.
Weeks of protests have been sparked by the killing of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson.
Several demonstrators gathered outside a QuikTrip petrol station and convenience store in St Louis on Sunday morning, refusing to disperse.
Riot police used pepper spray to clear the protest.
Thousands of people in Missouri have taken part in rallies and vigils as part of a four-day event named Ferguson October
St Louis police chief Sam Dotson said on his Twitter account that the protesters were “attempting to storm” the store and had thrown rocks at police officers.
Protesters denied throwing rocks at the police.
A QuikTrip store in Ferguson was wrecked during violent protests in the aftermath of Michael Brown’s killing, and later became a gathering point for protesters.
Tensions in St Louis are also high after another black teenager, Vonderrit D. Myers, was shot dead by a police officer on Wednesday.
Police said 18-year-old Vonderrit D. Myers shot at an officer, but the victim’s parents say he was unarmed and racially profiled.
Ferguson October began on Friday, October 10, when hundreds of demonstrators lined up outside the office of the local prosecutor, Robert McCulloch.
Demonstrators chanted slogans calling for Robert McCulloch to charge Darren Wilson, the officer who shot Michael Brown in August.
On October 11, there was a peaceful march through the centre of St Louis to the Keiner Plaza park. The crowd was larger than the day before, according to the Associated Press.
“This isn’t going to stop until there is change with police and black youth,” Tory Russell, one of the protest organizers, said.
Protest organizers said the weekend of events was intended “to build momentum for a nationwide movement against police violence”.
“We are here to bring peace, to bring restoration, to lift our banners in the name of those who’ve been sacrificed,” said another protest organizer, Montague Simmons.
Planned events include street protests as well as a music event and a day of “civil disobedience”.
Organizers have urged people from across the US to attend.
A US justice department investigation into the shooting of Michael Brown in August is continuing.
Another case involving Darren Wilson, the Ferguson police officer who fatally shot Michael Brown, will be reviewed by a St. Louis County grand jury.
A judge approved the request by county prosecutors on September 29 in a case involving a drug suspect arrested in 2013 by Officer Darren Wilson. The man’s attorney wants the drug distribution charge dismissed because he doesn’t expect Darren Wilson, who did not attend the hearing, to show up in court.
Officer Darren Wilson shot and killed black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson
Darren Wilson received a Ferguson City Council commendation for his role in Christopher Brooks’ arrest. But defense attorney Nick Zotos said his client was “roughed up” by Darren Wilson and also questioned whether his actions merited special recognition.
The grand jury is also reviewing evidence in the early August shooting death of Michael Brown to determine whether Darren Wilson should face criminal charges.
Five people were arrested and two police officers injured in renewed violence overnight on the streets of Ferguson, Missouri.
The renewed violence sparked in the town after a fire destroyed a shrine to Michael Brown, the black teenager killed by a police officer last month.
Police in Ferguson have said they will not tolerate further violence in the town after protesters looted shops and harassed officers on Tuesday night.
There were violent clashes between police and demonstrators after the shooting of an unarmed black teenager by a white policeman last month.
Police said that two officers were injured after confronting the crowd the night before.
Earlier, a memorial to the teenager burnt down in a suspicious fire.
Michael Brown, 18, was shot by Officer Darren Wilson on August 9 after being stopped for walking in the street.
His shooting led to nights of running street battles between protesters and heavily armed police.
Burning of Michael Brown memorial led to more Ferguson protests
Although community leaders and politicians were successful in calming Ferguson’s majority black population, the town remains tense with many demanding Darren Wilson’s prosecution for the shooting.
On Tuesday night, a shot was looted and vandalized and rocks thrown at police.
A decision was made to disperse protestors an officer was harassed, said Captain Ron Johnson of the Missouri state highway patrol.
“This behavior will not be tolerated,” he said.
The renewed violence came as a St Louis grand jury decides whether or not to charge Darren Wilson with Michael Brown’s shooting.
It is unclear when they will make a decision. A separate investigation by the US justice department is ongoing.
Earlier on Tuesday, a memorial on the street Michael Brown was shot was burnt down in suspicious circumstances.
Police said the cause of the blaze was under investigation, and local residents suspected arson.
One man told the Associated Press news agency it was like a grave had been desecrated.
A separate memorial marking the spot where Michael Brown died was not damaged in the fire.
Candles have been part of both memorials on the street for weeks, the St Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Several hours later, the memorial had been rebuilt with new teddy bears, flowers and signs.
Ferguson police have stopped protesters angry over the shooting of Michael Brown last month from trying to block a nearby highway.
Police said 35 people were arrested as they tried to reach the Interstate 70 highway, but added that the protest was largely peaceful.
Many in Ferguson, Missouri, have demanded the arrest of white police officer Darren Wilson who shot 18-year-old Michael Brown on August 9.
Officer Darren Wilson has been on administrative leave since last month.
Police said 32 people were arrested on charges of unlawful assembly, with four people arrested on assault charges.
Organizers said the protest was specifically held in the same location as a similar demonstration in 1999.
On September 9, city leaders, mostly white, were heckled by the largely black crowd of residents at Ferguson’s first city council meeting since the shooting.
Ferguson police have stopped protesters angry over the shooting of Michael Brown last month from trying to block a nearby highway
“You’ve lost your authority to govern this community,” said St Louis activist John Chasnoff.
“You’re going to have to step aside peacefully if this community is going to heal.”
Many of the audience held up their hands in a gesture that has been used to protest at Michael Brown’s killing.
Michael Brown’s supporters say the teenager was trying to surrender when he was shot by Officer Darren Wilson after being stopped for walking in the middle of the street.
Ferguson, which has a population of 21,000, is a majority black city. Many residents questioned why the mayor, James Knowles, and five of the six city council members were white.
“I heard the mayor say Ferguson doesn’t have a race problem,” said resident Taurean Russell.
“There must be two Fergusons.”
Before the meeting, council officials announced proposals to reduce the revenue collected from court fines.
Critics have said this discriminates against low-income defendants who cannot afford private attorneys and who are often jailed for not paying the fines quickly enough.
However, the proposals were drowned out by anger from the audience who said nothing had changed since Michael Brown’s shooting.
There were demands for the arrest of Darren Wilson who is currently on administrative leave from the Ferguson Police Department while a grand jury determines whether charges should be filed against him.
Last week, the US Justice Department announced it was launching a broad investigation into whether there was racial discrimination in the department.
This is separate from a federal inquiry and the grand jury investigation into Michael Brown’s killing.
Hundreds of mourners gathered in Ferguson, Missouri to attend the funeral of Michael Brown, the black teenager who was shot by police.
Michael Brown, 18, who was unarmed, was killed on August 9 after being stopped by a white police officer for walking in the middle of the street.
His death sparked days of protests and violent clashes, but tensions appear to have eased in recent days.
Michael Brown’s father has called for calm ahead of his son’s funeral.
“Tomorrow all I want is peace,” Michael Brown Senior told hundreds of people at a rally in St Louis on Sunday.
On Monday, long lines of mourners entered the Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Ferguson where the funeral service will be held at 10.00 local time.
The mood has been peaceful and sombre, but there is still anger in Ferguson, which has a majority black population, after the shooting by white police officer, Darren Wilson.
Michael Brown was killed on August 9 after being stopped by a white police officer for walking in the middle of the street
The National Guard, which was deployed to deal with violent clashes in Ferguson last week, started to withdraw from the area on Saturday as tensions showed signs of easing.
Michael Brown’s father made his plea for calm on Sunday to a crowd gathered at the Peace Fest 2014 festival, a rally against police violence in St Louis.
Rev. Al Sharpton also addressed the crowd, telling them the day of the funeral was not for “rage” but “about the legacy and memory of his [Michael Brown Sr.’s] son”.
“We don’t want anything tomorrow to happen that might defile the name of Michael Brown,” the reverend added.
Michael Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden took the microphone to thank the crowd.
She said she had seen her son’s body at the morgue for the first time on Sunday since the day of the shooting.
The family of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old who was shot and killed by a Florida neighborhood watch organizer who was later acquitted of murder charges, was present at the rally.
“We’re going to stand tall with you all,” Trayvon Martin’s father, Tracy Martin, said.
Three White House officials and Governor Jay Nixon are due to attend the funeral on Monday.
Ferguson was relatively calm on Sunday, with the main street open to traffic and fewer police officers around compared to previous days, Reuters reports.
The officer who killed Michael Brown, Darren Wilson, has been suspended with pay. Michael Brown’s family and supporters have called for him to be prosecuted.
A grand jury panel of residents has begun hearing evidence in the case, though officials have not said when it will reach a decision.
The National Guard has begun withdrawing from Ferguson, Missouri, where the shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown by white policeman Darren Wilson has sparked days of protests.
The National Guard troops were deployed in Ferguson on August 18 when demonstrations became more violent.
On August 21, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon ordered their withdrawal when it appeared that tensions had eased.
Michael Brown, 18, was killed on 9 August after being stopped by a police officer for walking in the street.
Jay Nixon had called in the National Guard to support police operations, amid unrest driven by anger over Michael Brown’s death and the police response.
However, August 20 and 21 were relatively calm with only a few arrests made.
Despite the easing of tension, some caution violence could flare up again when Michael Brown is buried on August 25.
The National Guard troops were deployed in Ferguson when demonstrations became more violent over Michael Brown’s shooting
“Monday night will be a critical night,” St Louis based Bishop Edwin Bass told the Reuters news agency.
“The funeral could have a big impact on the mood of the community,” he said.
Officer Darren Wilson, has been suspended with pay and Michael Brown’s family and supporters have called for him to be prosecuted.
A grand jury panel of residents has begun hearing evidence in the case, though officials have not said when it will reach a decision.
Attorney General Eric Holder arrived in Ferguson on August 20 to talk to justice department officials leading a separate federal investigation into the killing.
Eric Holder, who is the first black US attorney general, said on August 21 that the “national outcry we have seen speaks to the mistrust and mutual suspicions that can take hold between law enforcement and certain communities”.
“I wanted the people of Ferguson to know I personally understood that mistrust,” he said.
“This attorney general and this department of justice stand with the people of Ferguson.”
Eric Holder added that while he had gone to Ferguson to “provide reassurance, in fact they gave me hope”.
A second black man has been killed by police in St Louis, Missouri, days after Michael Brown’s death, threatening to further escalate tension.
On August 19, police officers shot dead a man who brandished a knife at them, St Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson said.
The August 9 shooting of Michael Brown, 18, sparked days of violent protests in the town of Ferguson, prompting a heavy police crackdown.
There is widespread anger against the mainly white police force for killing Michael Brown, who was unarmed.
Michael Brown’s family says his funeral will take place on Monday, August 25.
Attorney General Eric Holder is due to visit Ferguson on Wednesday to meet officials investigating the killing.
The police killing of a second black man in St Louis in 11 days has threatened to further escalate tension (photo AP)
Tuesday’s police shooting has threatened to further inflame tensions within the community.
According to police, in the early afternoon, two officers shot and killed a knife-wielding man four miles from the site of Michael Brown’s killing.
St Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson said witnesses reported the man had been behaving in an erratic manner, and emphasized the officers had a right to defend themselves.
“The suspect turned toward officers, pulled out knife in an overhand grip, told officers to <<shoot me now, kill me now>>,” he told reporters.
In another development in the Michael Brown case, the St Louis county prosecutor’s office on Tuesday said it would present evidence against Officer Darren Wilson to a grand jury on Wednesday.
The citizen panel will determine whether or not to charge Darren Wilson with killing Michael Brown.
Both St Louis officials and the US justice department are conducting investigations into the case, which has provoked demonstrations throughout the country.
Witnesses have said Michael Brown was shot as he held his hands up in a position of surrender, while the police and supporters of Darren Wilson have said he fired during a fight with the teenager.
An autopsy commissioned by Michael Brown’s family concluded he had been shot six times, twice in the head.
New York pathologist Dr. Michael Baden said Michael Brown’s body showed no signs of a struggle.
He also believed Michael Brown was not shot at close range as there was no gunpowder residue on his body, suggesting the officer was more than 2ft away.
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