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-30266172
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Ferguson shooting: Darren Wilson quits police force | Ferguson shooting: Darren Wilson quits police force |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The white police officer who fatally shot unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in the US town of Ferguson has resigned, his lawyer says. | The white police officer who fatally shot unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in the US town of Ferguson has resigned, his lawyer says. |
| Darren Wilson, who had been on administrative leave since the killing, told a newspaper he did not want to put the lives of police colleagues at risk. | Darren Wilson, who had been on administrative leave since the killing, told a newspaper he did not want to put the lives of police colleagues at risk. |
| Resigning was, he said, the "hardest thing" he had ever had to do. | Resigning was, he said, the "hardest thing" he had ever had to do. |
| Rioting rocked Ferguson and other towns this week after a jury decided he should not be charged over the killing. | Rioting rocked Ferguson and other towns this week after a jury decided he should not be charged over the killing. |
| The BBC's Washington correspondent, Tom Esslemont, says that to many in Ferguson, it was only a matter of time before Mr Wilson resigned. | The BBC's Washington correspondent, Tom Esslemont, says that to many in Ferguson, it was only a matter of time before Mr Wilson resigned. |
| His lawyer said his resignation was effective immediately. | His lawyer said his resignation was effective immediately. |
| The 9 August shooting in the St Louis suburb and the decision not to charge Mr Wilson triggered a nationwide debate over relations between black communities and law enforcement. | The 9 August shooting in the St Louis suburb and the decision not to charge Mr Wilson triggered a nationwide debate over relations between black communities and law enforcement. |
| 'Safety paramount' | 'Safety paramount' |
| The St Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper said Mr Wilson, 28, had decided to step down after his police department received threats of violence if he stayed on as an employee. | The St Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper said Mr Wilson, 28, had decided to step down after his police department received threats of violence if he stayed on as an employee. |
| The newspaper published what it said was his resignation letter, which read: "I have been told that my continued employment may put the residents and police officers of the City of Ferguson at risk, which is a circumstance that I cannot allow. | The newspaper published what it said was his resignation letter, which read: "I have been told that my continued employment may put the residents and police officers of the City of Ferguson at risk, which is a circumstance that I cannot allow. |
| "For obvious reasons, I wanted to wait until the grand jury made their decision before I officially made my decision to resign. | "For obvious reasons, I wanted to wait until the grand jury made their decision before I officially made my decision to resign. |
| "It was my hope to continue in police work, but the safety of other police officers and the community are of paramount importance to me. It is my hope that my resignation will allow the community to heal." | "It was my hope to continue in police work, but the safety of other police officers and the community are of paramount importance to me. It is my hope that my resignation will allow the community to heal." |
| In a subsequent telephone interview on Saturday evening, the paper quoted Mr Wilson as saying: "I'm resigning of my own free will. I'm not willing to let someone else get hurt because of me." | In a subsequent telephone interview on Saturday evening, the paper quoted Mr Wilson as saying: "I'm resigning of my own free will. I'm not willing to let someone else get hurt because of me." |
| Family 'crushed' | Family 'crushed' |
| Earlier this week, Mr Wilson told US media that before the shooting, Mr Brown had pushed him into his police car, hit him and grabbed at his drawn gun, and he said that he felt "like a five-year-old holding on to [US wrestler] Hulk Hogan". | Earlier this week, Mr Wilson told US media that before the shooting, Mr Brown had pushed him into his police car, hit him and grabbed at his drawn gun, and he said that he felt "like a five-year-old holding on to [US wrestler] Hulk Hogan". |
| The policeman said he had feared for his life. | The policeman said he had feared for his life. |
| Mr Brown's supporters said the teenager was attempting to surrender when he was shot. Some witnesses said the 18-year-old, who was unarmed, had his hands up. | Mr Brown's supporters said the teenager was attempting to surrender when he was shot. Some witnesses said the 18-year-old, who was unarmed, had his hands up. |
| Many in the African-American community had called for Mr Wilson to be charged with murder, but after three months of deliberation a Missouri grand jury - of nine white and three black members - made no recommendation of charges. | Many in the African-American community had called for Mr Wilson to be charged with murder, but after three months of deliberation a Missouri grand jury - of nine white and three black members - made no recommendation of charges. |
| The family of Mr Brown have said they felt "crushed" by the decision. | The family of Mr Brown have said they felt "crushed" by the decision. |
| The state prosecutor said physical evidence had contradicted some of the witness statements. | The state prosecutor said physical evidence had contradicted some of the witness statements. |
| The decision means Mr Wilson will not face state criminal charges over the shooting. However, the US justice department has launched a federal investigation into whether Mr Wilson violated Mr Brown's civil rights. | The decision means Mr Wilson will not face state criminal charges over the shooting. However, the US justice department has launched a federal investigation into whether Mr Wilson violated Mr Brown's civil rights. |
| The scene of the shooting | The scene of the shooting |