This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-30190224
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Ferguson decision: Ruling sparks night of violence | Ferguson decision: Ruling sparks night of violence |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The St Louis suburb of Ferguson has seen rioting and looting after a jury decided not to bring charges over the killing of Michael Brown. | The St Louis suburb of Ferguson has seen rioting and looting after a jury decided not to bring charges over the killing of Michael Brown. |
| A police chief said violence in the Missouri town was "probably much worse" than the worst unrest after the black teenager was killed in August. | A police chief said violence in the Missouri town was "probably much worse" than the worst unrest after the black teenager was killed in August. |
| St Louis County police chief Jon Belmar said rioters had fired 150 shots. | St Louis County police chief Jon Belmar said rioters had fired 150 shots. |
| Michael Brown was shot by a white police officer, Darren Wilson, on 9 August, sparking protests. | Michael Brown was shot by a white police officer, Darren Wilson, on 9 August, sparking protests. |
| Many in the African American community had called for Mr Wilson to be charged with murder, but following lengthy deliberations a grand jury made no recommendation of charges. | Many in the African American community had called for Mr Wilson to be charged with murder, but following lengthy deliberations a grand jury made no recommendation of charges. |
| President Barack Obama joined the teenager's family on Monday in appealing for calm, urging Americans to accept the decision was "the grand jury's to make''. | President Barack Obama joined the teenager's family on Monday in appealing for calm, urging Americans to accept the decision was "the grand jury's to make''. |
| The BBC's Aleem Maqbool reported seeing more vandalism and looting after Monday's ruling than on any night in August. | The BBC's Aleem Maqbool reported seeing more vandalism and looting after Monday's ruling than on any night in August. |
| 'Out of control' | 'Out of control' |
| Hours after the initial violence began, a large blaze at one business in Ferguson continued to burn as fire-fighters battled to bring it under control. | Hours after the initial violence began, a large blaze at one business in Ferguson continued to burn as fire-fighters battled to bring it under control. |
| "I didn't see a lot of peaceful protest out there tonight, and I'm disappointed about that," Mr Belmar said. "Unfortunately this spun out of control." | "I didn't see a lot of peaceful protest out there tonight, and I'm disappointed about that," Mr Belmar said. "Unfortunately this spun out of control." |
| Police made 29 arrests, Mr Belmar said, and there were reports of shops being looted. | Police made 29 arrests, Mr Belmar said, and there were reports of shops being looted. |
| The fabric of the community, he said, had been "torn apart" in Ferguson, which is a predominantly black community patrolled by a mainly white police force. | The fabric of the community, he said, had been "torn apart" in Ferguson, which is a predominantly black community patrolled by a mainly white police force. |
| "I don't think we were underprepared," he added. "But I'll be honest with you, unless we bring 10,000 policemen in here, I don't think we can prevent folks who really are intent on destroying a community." | "I don't think we were underprepared," he added. "But I'll be honest with you, unless we bring 10,000 policemen in here, I don't think we can prevent folks who really are intent on destroying a community." |
| Missouri Governor Jay Nixon called up the National Guard ahead of the jury's decision as a precaution but it appears they were not deployed against the rioters. | |
| As protesters charged barricades, hurling glass bottles, police responded with smoke and tear gas. | |
| Shouts of "murderer" could be heard while a chant reported by AFP news agency went: "Hey, hey, ho, ho, these killer cops have got to go." | |
| One protester, Charles Miller, told the BBC that while he did not advocate violence, he understood why people were angry. | One protester, Charles Miller, told the BBC that while he did not advocate violence, he understood why people were angry. |
| "You can't just go shoot an 18-year-old who's unarmed on the street, despite what the story may have been," he said. | "You can't just go shoot an 18-year-old who's unarmed on the street, despite what the story may have been," he said. |
| "He was unarmed and you are an armed law enforcement officer who's been trained in combat. So I think people are rightfully upset." | "He was unarmed and you are an armed law enforcement officer who's been trained in combat. So I think people are rightfully upset." |
| After the situation calmed down, he added, he hoped there would be an "opportunity to really grow and change a lot of things, and make sure [Michael Brown's] death didn't mean nothing". | After the situation calmed down, he added, he hoped there would be an "opportunity to really grow and change a lot of things, and make sure [Michael Brown's] death didn't mean nothing". |
| Michael Brown killing - Darren Wilson's testimony | Michael Brown killing - Darren Wilson's testimony |
| Read more of Darren Wilson's testimony (Warning: Explicit language) | Read more of Darren Wilson's testimony (Warning: Explicit language) |
| Full grand jury evidence via St Louis Public Radio | Full grand jury evidence via St Louis Public Radio |
| 'Y'all wrong!' | |
| Much of the debate since August has centred on whether Michael Brown was attempting to surrender to Darren Wilson when he was shot. | |
| The chant "Hands up, don't shoot" has become widely used in a reference to the incident. But state prosecutor Robert McCulloch said some witness statements had been contradicted by physical evidence. | |
| Police say there was a struggle between the teenager and the officer before the shooting. | Police say there was a struggle between the teenager and the officer before the shooting. |
| In his own testimony, Mr Wilson says that before the shooting Mr Brown pushed him back into his car, hit him and briefly grabbed his drawn gun. | In his own testimony, Mr Wilson says that before the shooting Mr Brown pushed him back into his car, hit him and briefly grabbed his drawn gun. |
| The jury was made up of 12 randomly picked citizens - nine white and three black. At least nine votes were needed in order to issue an indictment. | |
| Mr Brown's family said in a statement: "We are profoundly disappointed that the killer of our child will not face the consequence of his actions." | |
| But they also appealed for calm, saying, "Let's not just make noise, let's make a difference," and calling for all police to wear body cameras. | |
| Mr Brown's mother, Lesley McSpadden, wept at news of the jury's decision as she was comforted by supporters outside the police station in Ferguson. | |
| According to the New York Times, she yelled "They wrong!", pointing toward the police officers standing outside of the station. "Y'all know y'all wrong!" she shouted. | |
| Mr Brown's family could yet file a wrongful-death lawsuit against Mr Wilson. | |
| Meanwhile, a justice ministry investigation is still under way into whether the police officer violated Mr Brown's civil rights. | |
| Darren Wilson, 28, is currently on paid leave and has kept out of the public eye. | |
| The ministry is also investigating practices at the Ferguson police department. | |
| Are you in Ferguson? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you in Ferguson? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| Have your say | Have your say |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read our terms and conditions. | Read our terms and conditions. |