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Ferguson police name Darren Wilson as officer who shot Michael Brown Ferguson police name Darren Wilson as officer who shot Michael Brown
(35 minutes later)
The police officer who shot and killed an unarmed teenager in the Missouri city of Ferguson, sparking days of protests and and violent clashes, was named on Friday.The police officer who shot and killed an unarmed teenager in the Missouri city of Ferguson, sparking days of protests and and violent clashes, was named on Friday.
The Ferguson police chief, Thomas Jackson, identified him as Darren Wilson, a six-year veteran of the city police department. He said Wilson had a clean disciplinary record before the incident on Saturday, when he shot Michael Jackson But in a move that infuriated Brown’s family, police also released security camera footage and an incident report that implicated the 18-year-old in an earlier robbery at a convenience store. The family’s lawyer described the revelation, which came unaccompanied by any further details of the shooting, as a “character assassination”.
He also released details of a robbery earlier in the day on Saturday, in which Brown was a suspect. Security camera footage showed an assailant, purported to be Brown, confronting another man in a convenience store. The Ferguson police chief, Thomas Jackson, identified the officer who shot Brown as Darren Wilson, a six-year veteran of the city police department. He said Wilson had a clean disciplinary record before the incident on Saturday.
The announcement brought an end to wide-ranging speculation and rumour that, residents, said was stoking disgruntlement. Several names were published online and circulated locally, forcing police to issue denials. But the revelation of a partial incident report – which gave no details of the events surrounding the shooting – threatened to increase tensions in the town. The announcement brought an end to wide-ranging speculation and rumour that, residents, said was stoking disgruntlement. Several names were published online and circulated locally, forcing police to issue denials. But the revelation of a partial account of events that surrounded the shooting of Brown threatened to inflame tensions in the town.
A dramatic shift in law enforcement tactics, after responsibility for policing the demonstrations was removed from the city police, had led to a calmer atmosphere on Thursday night. A dramatic shift in law enforcement tactics, after responsibility for policing the demonstrations was removed from St Louis County police, had led to a calmer atmosphere on Thursday night.
Police have said that a struggle with officers led to Brown being shot. But witnesses said that Brown was shot repeatedly after fleeing the confrontation with his hands up, following a disagreement over a request from the officer for Brown and a friend to move off the road and on to the sidewalk.Police have said that a struggle with officers led to Brown being shot. But witnesses said that Brown was shot repeatedly after fleeing the confrontation with his hands up, following a disagreement over a request from the officer for Brown and a friend to move off the road and on to the sidewalk.
On Friday, details of the robbery in which Brown was alleged to have been involved emerged with the publication of a police report. According to the account, witnesses told police that Brown stole several packets of Swisher Sweet cigars from a convenience store between 11.52pm and 11.54pm on the night of 9 August. On Friday, details of the robbery in which Brown was alleged to have been involved emerged with the publication of a police report. According to the account, witnesses told police that Brown stole several packets of Swisher Sweet cigars from a convenience store between 11.52pm and 11.54am on 9 August.
Store surveillance footage shows that “an apparent struggle or confrontation seems to take place with Brown,” and then as he made to leave, an unidentified person tried to stop him. Brown pushed the man into a display rack, started to leave the store, appeared to intimidate the person one more time, then left, according to the report. Store surveillance footage shows that “an apparent struggle or confrontation seems to take place with Brown,” and then as he made to leave, an unidentified man tried to stop him. Brown pushed the man into a display rack, started to leave the store, appeared to intimidate the person one more time, then left, according to the report.
A brief note at the end of the report ties the robbery to Brown’s killing, which it says is “worth mentioning”. It read: “In that incident, Brown was fatally wounded involving an officer of this department.” No further details of the killing were offered.A brief note at the end of the report ties the robbery to Brown’s killing, which it says is “worth mentioning”. It read: “In that incident, Brown was fatally wounded involving an officer of this department.” No further details of the killing were offered.
A friend of Brown, Dorian Johnson is identified in the report as being involved in the robbery. He was also present at the scene of the shooting, and has spoken several times about the shooting, contradicting claims by the police that Brown wrestled with Wilson before the shooting. Brown’s family attorney, Benjamin Crump, said his parents were “incensed” and accused police of playing “the old game of smoke and mirrors.” He added: “It’s bad enough they assassinated him, and now they’re trying to assassinate his character.”
The governor of Missouri, Jay Nixon, who was responsible for stepping down the Ferguson city police department on Thursday, attempted to limit the fallout from the revelation. “Nothing should deter figuring out how and why Michael Brown was killed,” Nixon said. “But there’s a lot of steps between now and when justice is served. And there will be a lot of other bounces along the way. And there will be a lot of tension at times.”
A friend of Brown, Dorian Johnson, was identified in the police report as being involved in the robbery. He was also present at the scene of the shooting, and has spoken several times about the shooting, contradicting claims by the police that Brown wrestled with Wilson before the shooting.
Jackson had said previously that following the incident the officer had sustained a swollen face in the incident and was treated in hospital. Asked what had struck the officer’s face, Jackson told a press conference earlier this week: “Don’t know.”Jackson had said previously that following the incident the officer had sustained a swollen face in the incident and was treated in hospital. Asked what had struck the officer’s face, Jackson told a press conference earlier this week: “Don’t know.”
The shooting is being investigated by St Louis County police, which previously insisted that the officer’s identity would not be released. County prosecutor Bob McCulloch said earlier this week that Wilson’s name and other details about the incident must remain secret to ensure the integrity of the inquiry.The shooting is being investigated by St Louis County police, which previously insisted that the officer’s identity would not be released. County prosecutor Bob McCulloch said earlier this week that Wilson’s name and other details about the incident must remain secret to ensure the integrity of the inquiry.
McCulloch reportedly reacted furiously on Friday night to the transfer in leadership of policing demonstrations over Brown’s death. Missouri governor Jay Nixon relieved the county police force and handed leadership to the Missouri state highway patrol and Captain Ron Johnson.McCulloch reportedly reacted furiously on Friday night to the transfer in leadership of policing demonstrations over Brown’s death. Missouri governor Jay Nixon relieved the county police force and handed leadership to the Missouri state highway patrol and Captain Ron Johnson.