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Ferguson police: Michael Brown was robbery suspect 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.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.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. Mr Brown's family have reacted angrily at what they see as a police attempt to "justify the execution-style murder".
The killing sparked days of violent protests in Ferguson. The killing sparked days of angry protests, to which police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.
Theft of cigarsTheft of cigars
Mr Jackson described the robbery at the convenience store as being committed without the use of a weapon. Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson has described the robbery at the convenience store as being committed without the use of a weapon.
Police released to the press pictures of a well-built black man intimidating a clerk in the store.Police released to the press pictures of a well-built black man intimidating a clerk in the store.
The report identifies Mr Brown, who is described as being 6ft 4in (193cm) and 292 pounds (132kg), as one of the robbers. The report identifies Mr Brown, described as being 6ft 4in (193cm) and 292 pounds (132kg), as one of the robbers.
It says he "grabbed a box of Swisher Sweet cigars" and handed them to a second suspect identified as Mr Brown's friend, Dorian Johnson.It 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.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.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. Also on Friday Mr Jackson revealed the name of the officer who shot and killed Mr Brown - Darren Wilson - and said he was injured in a struggle with Mr Brown.
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. Mr Wilson, is a six-year veteran of the police force with no disciplinary record, Mr Jackson said.
'Cover up''Cover up'
Members of the majority black Ferguson community reacted angrily to the announcement that Mr Brown was a police suspect. Mr Brown's family have reacted strongly to the announcement that Michael was a police suspect.
"The devious way the police chief has chosen to disseminate piecemeal information in a manner intended to assassinate the character of their son, following such a brutal assassination of his person in broad daylight," said the family's lawyers in a statement.
"There is nothing based on the facts that have been placed before us that can justify the execution-style murder of their child by this police officer as he held his hands up, which is the universal sign of surrender."
Members of the majority black Ferguson community have also reacted angrily.
"For them to say this is an armed robbery makes me think this is a cover up," Ferguson resident Milton Jackson, 37, told the Reuters news agency."For them to say this is an armed robbery makes me think this is a cover up," Ferguson resident Milton Jackson, 37, told the Reuters news agency.
"I don't believe what the officer did was called for. Even if there was a robbery, it was unnecessary force to shoot an unarmed black man.""I don't believe what the officer did was called for. Even if there was a robbery, it was unnecessary force to shoot an unarmed black man."
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 after days of violent clashes between protesters and police.
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.
'Excessive force' criticised
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".
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.
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.