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Family of shot Missouri teenager urges calm | Family of shot Missouri teenager urges calm |
(35 minutes later) | |
The family of the black teenager shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri, has appealed for calm after police revealed he was a robbery suspect. | The family of the black teenager shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri, has appealed for calm after police revealed he was a robbery suspect. |
CCTV footage appears to show Michael Brown, 18, stealing from a convenience store and intimidating the owner. | CCTV footage appears to show Michael Brown, 18, stealing from a convenience store and intimidating the owner. |
Mr Brown's family denied their son was "perfect" but criticised what they see as a police attempt to "justify the execution-style murder". | |
The killing sparked days of angry clashes between police and protestors. | The killing sparked days of angry clashes between police and protestors. |
"Stay with us, we don't want to see any violence on the streets. Please continue to peacefully protest," said Michael Brown's cousin, Eric Davis. | "Stay with us, we don't want to see any violence on the streets. Please continue to peacefully protest," said Michael Brown's cousin, Eric Davis. |
"The family have never said that Mike Brown was perfect," said a lawyer representing Brown's family. | "The family have never said that Mike Brown was perfect," said a lawyer representing Brown's family. |
Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson said the officer who shot Brown did not know that he had allegedly stolen goods from a nearby store. | Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson said the officer who shot Brown did not know that he had allegedly stolen goods from a nearby store. |
"The initial contact between the officer and Michael Brown was not related to the robbery," he said. | "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". | 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 the footage of the crime only because he had been forced to do so because of numerous freedom of information requests from journalists. | Mr Jackson said he had released the footage 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. | 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. | CCTV pictures in a police report show a well-built black man intimidating a clerk in the store. |
The police report identifies the man as Mr Brown, described as being 6ft 4in (193cm) and 292 pounds (132kg). | The police 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. |
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. |
Members of the majority black Ferguson community have reacted angrily to the revelations. | Members of the majority black Ferguson community have reacted angrily to the revelations. |
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." | 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. |
There was no sign of the heavily armed police presence of previous nights. | There was no sign of 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. |