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Michael Brown killing: Ferguson officer identified Ferguson police: Michael Brown was robbery suspect
(about 1 hour later)
The police officer who killed an unarmed black teenager, sparking days of protests in Ferguson, Missouri, has been identified as Darren Wilson. Michael Brown, the black teenager shot by police on Saturday in Ferguson, Missouri, was a suspect in a robbery just moments earlier, police have said.
Michael Brown, 18, was shot on Saturday in an incident widely seen as an act of police brutality. Police say Mr Brown, 18, was one of two men suspected of robbing a nearby convenience store.
Darren Wilson is a six-year veteran of the police force with no disciplinary record, Chief Thomas Jackson said Minutes later he was shot by Officer Darren Wilson after a struggle, Ferguson police Chief Thomas Jackson said on Friday.
Mr Jackson said the officer was treated for injuries sustained during the confrontation with Mr Brown. The killing sparked days of violent protests in Ferguson.
Robbery suspect Mr Jackson described the robbery at the convenience store as being committed without the use of a weapon.
Mr Jackson provided no other details of the deadly encounter, leaving unclear whether the revelation would satisfy public anger over the incident. Police released to the press by police shows pictures of a well-built black man intimidating a clerk in the store.
But the police chief did give details of a "strong arm" robbery that took place in Ferguson minutes before Michael Brown was shot. The report identifies Mr Brown as one of the robbers and says he "grabbed a box of Swisher Sweet cigars" and handed them to a second suspect identified as Mr Brown's friend, Dorian Johnson.
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. Since the shooting on Saturday, Mr Johnson has given a number of interviews in which he has said Mr Brown held up his hands in an act of surrender before being shot by the officer.
The revelations came after days of furious protests in Ferguson over the killing, to which police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. He has not mentioned his involvement in any robbery.
Mr Wilson, the police officer said to have shot Mr Brown, is a six-year veteran of the police force with no disciplinary record, Chief Thomas Jackson said.
Mr Jackson said he was treated for injuries sustained during the confrontation with Mr Brown, but he provided no other details of the deadly encounter.
The revelations on Friday morning 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.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.
"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.
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".
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.