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Ferguson police: Michael Brown was robbery suspect | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
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. | |
Police say Mr Brown, 18, was one of two men suspected of robbing a nearby convenience store. | |
Minutes later he was shot by Officer Darren Wilson after a struggle, Ferguson police Chief Thomas Jackson said on Friday. | |
The killing sparked days of violent protests in Ferguson. | |
Mr Jackson described the robbery at the convenience store as being committed without the use of a weapon. | |
Police released to the press by police shows pictures of a well-built black man intimidating a clerk in the store. | |
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. | |
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. | |
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. |
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". |
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. |