Violence erupts in Ferguson after cop cleared in fatal shooting
Police cars have been vandalised and several gunshots have been heard on the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, after the announcement that a white police officer will not be indicted in the shooting death of an unarmed black 18-year-old.
About 15 minutes after St Louis County prosecutor Bob McCulloch announced Officer Darren Wilson wouldn't be indicted, county police used a bullhorn to tell crowds outside the Ferguson Police Department to disperse, saying it had become an unlawful assembly.
Protesters hugged a barricade and taunted police, sometimes with expletives. Some chanted “murderer”. Gunshots were heard down the street and somebody threw a water bottle that bounced off a police shield.
Reports of violence already occurring on the streets in Ferguson, MO. Per @craigmelvin a Ferguson police officer has just been struck.
— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) November 25, 2014
Some in the crowd reportedly tried to stop others from taking part in vandalism and other violent reactions.
The tearful family of 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was shot dead on August 9, expressed profound disappointment after St Louis County prosecutor Robert McCulloch relayed the grand jury's decision.
But they called for protesters to work peacefully for positive change after a grand jury didn't indict police Officer Darren Wilson in the killing of their son.
“We are profoundly disappointed that the killer of our child will not face the consequence of his actions,” Brown's parents Lesley McSpadden and Michael Brown Sr said in a statement released by one of their lawyers on Monday night following the grand jury announcement.
“While we understand that many others share our pain, we ask that you channel your frustration in ways that will make a positive change,” the statement said.
“We need to work together to fix the system that allowed this to happen.”
US President Barack Obama has appealed for calm.
A St Louis County grand jury reached the decision to not indict police officer Darren Wilson for the fatal shooting of Michael Brown Jr, and has cleared him on all five counts.
Anxiety over the decision had kept the St Louis region on edge, as the public waited to see whether the fatal shooting of the unarmed black teenager by the white police officer would result in an indictment.
After announcing the decision, St Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCullough said the jurors had heard previously unreleased testimony.
After Wilson, in his car, identified Brown as a potential suspect in the theft of some cigarillos and asked him to move to the sidewalk, "words were exchanged and they continued walking down the middle of the street.
"As they passed, Wilson observed that Michael Brown had cigarillos in his hand ... At 12:02 p.m. Wilson radioed that he had two individuals on Canfield and needed assistance.
"Officer Wilson backed his vehicle at an angle blocking their path and blocking the flow of traffic in both directions. Several cars approached from both east and west but were unable to pass the police vehicle," McCullough told reporters.
"An altercation took place at the car with officer Wilson seated inside the vehicle and Mr. Brown standing at the driver's window. During the altercation, two shots were fired by officer Wilson while still inside the vehicle.
"Mr. Brown ran east on Canfield and officer Wilson gave chase. ... Mr. Brown stopped and turned back towards officer Wilson.
"Officer Wilson also stopped. Michael Brown moved toward officer Wilson, and several more shots were fired by the officer and Michael Brown was fatally wounded."
Referring to multiple conflicting witness accounts of details of the case, such as the position of Brown's hands -- some said they were raised in surrender, others said they were down or out to his sides -- McCullough stressed the challenge of reconciling accounts.
"I think there are a number of witnesses who truly believe what they said. The were consistent throughout -- even in the face of their testimony being in conflict with the physical evidence that was there," the prosecutor said.
Anxiety over the decision had kept the St Louis region on edge, as the public waited to see whether the fatal shooting of the unarmed black teenager by the white police officer would result in an indictment.
The grand jury convened on August 20 to hear evidence and testimony. The 12-member group was asked to decide if there was probable cause to charge Wilson with a crime and what that charge should be. Options ranged from second-degree involuntary manslaughter to second-degree murder.
Wilson, 28, could have faced life in prison if convicted of the most serious charge.
But the grand jury found that probable cause did not exist and dismissed the state’s case without charging Wilson.
Obama urged Ferguson police to work with the community not against and allow peaceful protests
— Angela Cox (@angelacox7news) November 25, 2014
Obama: progress won't come from hurting anybody, throwing bottles, damaging cars
— Angela Cox (@angelacox7news) November 25, 2014
Many, including Wilson, recently expressed hope that the grand jury would not hand down an indictment. On Thursday, Jeff Roorda, representative with the St Louis Police Officers' Association, described Wilson as being under a lot of pressure and stress but he was confident in the outcome of the grand jury investigation.
“It's fair to say that neither he nor his defense team expect an indictment,” Roorda told AP, offering his impression of the situation based his meeting with Wilson.
The August 9 shooting led to weeks of protests and saw citizens clash with heavily armed police. Stores in Ferguson were looted and property was destroyed. Hundreds of people were arrested.
Wilson reportedly told investigators that he feared for his life and felt justified in fatally shooting the 18-year-old. He said Brown assaulted him inside his patrol SUV and tried to take his gun. The teen’s family and some witnesses said Wilson was the aggressor and ultimately killed Brown as the teenager raised his hands in surrender.
Activists responded to reports of the decision by reminding their followers that marches would be held in Ferguson, Clayton and St Louis' historic Shaw neighborhood.
Officials have been planning for months for a possible backlash after the grand jury decision. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon activated the state’s National Guard and declared a state of emergency. The governor’s order directs police “to protect civil rights and ensure public safety in the City of Ferguson and the St Louis region.”
Activists from around the country have been arriving in the area for weeks to help plan demonstrations. Some groups aim to keep the protests peaceful and have asked police to follow proposed “rules of engagement.” Other organizations are issuing protective equipment and have set up “safe spaces” for protesters.
not the time to panic y'all. we've been planning. we are prepared either way. either way.
— ShordeeDooWhop (@Nettaaaaaaaa) November 24, 2014
Brown graduated from high school in May and was planning to start trade school on Aug. 11, two days after he was shot. He was buried Aug. 25 in St. Louis County.
Wilson, an officer in Ferguson for three years, has been on paid leave and has not been seen in public since the shooting. Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson recently told Yahoo News that Wilson would “immediately” return to active duty if he was not indicted but was likely to be terminated if he was charged with a felony.
Morning news break - November 25
