Courtesy of USA Today:
A white police officer will not face charges for fatally shooting an unarmed black teenager in a case that set off violent protests and racial unrest throughout the nation, an attorney close to the case said Monday night.
A St. Louis County grand jury declined to indict officer Darren Wilson, 28, for firing six shots in an August confrontation that killed 18-year-old Michael Brown, said Benjamin Crump, an attorney for the family. The decision had been long awaited and followed rioting that resembled war-zone news footage in this predominantly black suburb of St. Louis.
"The jury was not inclined to indict on any charges,'' Crump said after being informed of the decision by authorities. Prosecutors scheduled an news conference to announce the decision.
I am surprised this leaked as I am still watching the official announcement on MSNBC. (Update: MSNBC has now also confirmed that there will be no indictment. And I heard that for myself as well.)
I am glad that I am not living in Ferguson tonight, I cannot imagine that this is going to go over very well with the community.
Update: Don't forget that this young man was shot in the top of his head. How that is considered a reasonable use of force is completely beyond me.
Update 2: The prosecuting attorney for St. Louis county, Bob McCulloch, quoted liberally from the autopsy report that the grand jury used in their deliberations. And of course the report indicated that Brown had been shot at close range in the thumb and that the following shots were delivered to the front of his body.
However the independent autopsy ordered by the family indicated quite the opposite:
An independent autopsy report conducted on behalf of the family found that Brown had been shot at least eight times – six times from behind. Jerryl Christmas, one of the Brown family attorneys, said the results indicated there was no struggle.
This makes me wonder what Eric Holder's federal investigation might turn up.
Update 3: Well you knew this was coming:
Violent protests erupted in Ferguson, Mo., Monday night, shortly after a grand jury decided not to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the August shooting death of teenager Michael Brown.
Demonstrators taunted police, shattered windows and vandalized cars. At least one police car was set on fire. Local police attempted to disperse a crowd with volley after volley of smoke bombs, pepper spray and bean bags. The protests escalated despite efforts by Brown's family, local authorities, activists and President Obama to tamp down unrest and anger.
I understand their frustration, bu I don't see how this helps.
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