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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. |
But they said the robbery in a convenience store had nothing to do with the initial contact between Mr Brown and the officer who shot him. | |
Mr Brown's family have reacted angrily at what they see as a police attempt to "justify the execution-style murder". | 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 angry clashes between police and protestors. | |
Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson said the officer who shot Michael Brown did not know that he had stolen goods from a nearby store. | |
"The initial contact between the officer and Michael Brown was not related to the robbery," he said. | |
Instead, he added, the reason for the stop was that Brown "was walking down the middle of the street stopping traffic". | |
Mr Jackson said he had released details of the crime only because he had been forced to do so because of numerous freedom of information requests from journalists. | |
He described the robbery at the convenience store as being committed without the use of a weapon. | |
CCTV pictures in a police report show a well-built black man intimidating a clerk in the store. | |
The report identifies the man as Mr Brown, described as being 6ft 4in (193cm) and 292 pounds (132kg). | |
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. |
Police say Mr Johnson has not been charged for his role in the robbery because it was determined he "did not commit a crime". | |
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. | 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 Wilson, is a six-year veteran of the police force with no disciplinary record, Mr Jackson said. | Mr Wilson, is a six-year veteran of the police force with no disciplinary record, Mr Jackson said. |
Mr Brown's family have reacted strongly to the announcement that Michael 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. | "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." | "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. | Members of the majority black Ferguson community have also reacted angrily. |
Ferguson resident Milton Jackson, 37, said: "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." | |
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 after days of violent clashes between protesters and police. |
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. |
And there was not the heavily armed police presence of previous nights. | |
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. |