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Michael Brown killing: Ferguson officer to be named Michael Brown killing: Ferguson officer identified
(35 minutes later)
The name of the Ferguson, Missouri, police officer who killed an unarmed black teenager, sparking days of protests, will be released on Friday, the local police chief has said. The police officer who killed an unarmed black teenager, sparking days of protests in Ferguson, Missouri, has been identified as Darren Wilson.
Thomas Jackson told US media the revelation would "make things better". Michael Brown, 18, was shot on Saturday in an incident widely seen as an act of police brutality.
The shooting of Michael Brown, 18, on Saturday sparked outraged protests. Darren Wilson is a six-year veteran of the police force with no disciplinary record, Chief Thomas Jackson said
For days heavily armed police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets, but on Thursday, tension eased when state police took charge of security. Mr Jackson said the officer was treated for injuries sustained during the confrontation with Mr Brown.
Robbery suspect
Mr Jackson provided no other details of the deadly encounter, leaving unclear whether the revelation would satisfy public anger over the incident.
But the police chief did give details of a "strong arm" robbery that took place in Ferguson minutes before Michael Brown was shot.
According to Mr Jackson, at 11:51 police received a report of a robbery at a convenience store, including a description of the suspect. Ten minutes later, a police officer encountered Mr Brown nearby, and minutes later, shot and killed him.
The revelations came after days of furious protests in Ferguson over the killing, to which police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.
On Thursday night, tension seemed to ease, at least momentarily, as state police took charge of security.
The change in command was announced earlier in the day by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, after local police were roundly criticised for their heavy-handed response to the protests.The change in command was announced earlier in the day by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, after local police were roundly criticised for their heavy-handed response to the protests.
"We're going to have to regain trust," said Mr Nixon, a Democrat."We're going to have to regain trust," said Mr Nixon, a Democrat.
Capt Ronald Johnson of the Missouri Highway Patrol, an African-American who grew up nearby, was named as the new head of the operation.Capt Ronald Johnson of the Missouri Highway Patrol, an African-American who grew up nearby, was named as the new head of the operation.
As he walked at the front of a march through the streets on Thursday, Capt Johnson was seen hugging people he met. "We all want justice. We all want answers," he said.
In addition to the simple outrage at the killing of a young man, residents of Ferguson, a small suburb of St Louis, have been angered at the local police department's refusal to identify the officer who shot Mr Brown.
Thomas Jackson, of the local police department, had said he was withholding the name due to fears for the safety of the officer and his family.
But on Friday morning, he told US television news networks he would release the name later in the day.
"We're learning and we're moving forward," Mr Jackson told ABC News. "This all starts now to heal, to just make things better."
At the scene: Aleem Maqbool, Ferguson
The transformation over the past 24 hours here has been extraordinary. For days, there had been unrest and confrontation between a largely white police force and young, black protesters.
But the images of police in military gear and armoured vehicles out in Missouri shocked many Americans, led to criticism from officials, and clearly led to a change in tactics. Overnight the police presence was minimal. Black officers took the lead and were greeted with handshakes by people who poured onto the streets, now without fear of intimidation.
They stayed there well into the night, in something of a united, celebratory mood. They feel they have brought about a change in their community, and say they will no longer accept what they saw as police bullying and humiliation.
The previous evening, the reverberations from the Mid-west town were felt nationwide with dozens of vigils organised by a social media campaign.The previous evening, the reverberations from the Mid-west town were felt nationwide with dozens of vigils organised by a social media campaign.
The event in Washington DC was attended by hundreds of people in Malcolm X Park, many holding placards saying: "Hands up. Don't shoot".The event in Washington DC was attended by hundreds of people in Malcolm X Park, many holding placards saying: "Hands up. Don't shoot".
Similar vigils were held in New York, Boston, Detroit, Chicago and many other cities.Similar vigils were held in New York, Boston, Detroit, Chicago and many other cities.
They came at the end of a day when Mr Nixon likened the scenes of violence in Ferguson to a "war zone" and the police conduct was questioned.They came at the end of a day when Mr Nixon likened the scenes of violence in Ferguson to a "war zone" and the police conduct was questioned.
US Attorney General Eric Holder said the use of military equipment and vehicles in Ferguson had sent a "conflicting message", while President Barack Obama said there was no excuse for police using "excessive force".US Attorney General Eric Holder said the use of military equipment and vehicles in Ferguson had sent a "conflicting message", while President Barack Obama said there was no excuse for police using "excessive force".
Reporter Wesley Lowery of the Washington Post summed up the change in atmosphere on the streets of Ferguson.
"At this time at night on Monday, residents were in real fear for their lives," said Lowery, whose arrest on Wednesday night by police clearing a McDonald's restaurant drew national criticism. "Tonight they're taking selfies with cops."
One protester, Pedro Smith, said: "All they did was look at us and shoot tear gas. This is totally different. Now we're being treated with respect."
Details about the incident which led to Mr Brown's death have been disputed, but eyewitnesses said the unarmed teenager had his arms raised when he was shot multiple times by a police officer.
Police say there was a struggle and the officer suffered facial injuries.
Brown's cousin, Eric Davis, told the BBC that the officer must be prosecuted, adding: "The police situation has always been one of distrust and not good for African-Americans."Brown's cousin, Eric Davis, told the BBC that the officer must be prosecuted, adding: "The police situation has always been one of distrust and not good for African-Americans."
Mr Obama has promised a full investigation by the US Department of Justice into the teenager's death, and the FBI has launched its own inquiry.Mr Obama has promised a full investigation by the US Department of Justice into the teenager's death, and the FBI has launched its own inquiry.