FERGUSON, MISSOURI – It was announced Monday night that the officer who shot Michael Brown last summer will not be charged with a crime.
A grand jury had been meeting for weeks as evidence was presented in the case of the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown of Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was shot dead by a white police officer, Darren Wilson, on August 9. The grand jury considered four charges against Wilson, including first degree murder on down to involuntary manslaughter, but opted for no charges at all.
As the announcement was delayed Monday evening, demonstrators gathered in Ferguson near the shooting site, and gunshots have been said to have been fired, and general unrest was simmering. CNN reporter Don Lemon said “the smell of marijuana is in the air.”
Brown had stolen a handful of cigars from a convenience store on August 9, and Wilson caught to Brown minutes later. After Wilson confronted Brown and a companion, a struggled ensued, and Wilson fired about 12 shots at Brown, killing him. Brown’s body laid in the street for over 4 hours after the shooting s police secured the area.
President Obama was set to make a statement Monday evening, even as police were making announcements to the volatile crowd in Ferguson to disperse.
“I join Michael’s parents in asking anyone who protests this decision to do so peacefully,” the President said.
