No Indictment for Officer Wilson in Shooting Death of Michael Brown

A grand jury did not return a bill of indictment against Officer Darren Wilson in the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, St. Louis County, Prosecuting Attorney Robert P. McCulloch announced in a statement broadcast live Monday night across the nation as a crowd stood outside the county courthouse.

A man threw eggs at the courthouse in Clayton as word filtered through the crowd that Wilson would not be indicted locally. In Ferguson, shortly after 9 p.m. Central time, people began rocking a police car and police officers fired smoke bombs, flash bangs and bean bags into the mass of protesters to disperse the crowd, estimated at 160 people.

CNN reported that gunshots could be heard in Ferguson at 9:30 p.m. and a police car was set on fire on South Florissant near the police station. CNN’s reporter was forced to abandon his live report when tear gas enveloped the scene. Before 10 p.m., looters broke into the Ferguson Market — the store where Michael Brown stole cigarillos before he was shot to death — and made off with groceries and other goods from the store. Others urged them to stop, telling them they were hurting their own community.

“We are a nation built on the rule of law, so we need to accept that this decision was the grand jury’s to make,” said President Obama Monday evening, acknowledging that some Americans will agree and some disagree. He urged protesters to be peaceful.

As midnight approached, however, at least three buildings near the police station were fully engulfed in fire, including a beauty shop and a pizza shop, in addition to several cars, and sporadic gunfire could be heard up and down the block.

Before announcing the grand jury’s decision, McCulloch went to great lengths to explain how every piece of evidence was shared among local and federal officials.

“Our only goal was that our investigation would be thorough and complete,” he said.

McCulloch also pointedly noted that the 12 members of the grand jury, which was convened well before Michael Brown was shot to death, were presented with every fact related to the case.

“They are the only people who have heard every witness and examined every piece of evidence,” McCulloch said, and he urged the public not to rush to judgment.

McCulloch could have decided on his own to press charges against Wilson, but instead took the matter to the grand jury.

After announcing that “no true bill” was forthcoming from the grand jury, McCulloch outlined the details of the case. McCulloch noted that many witnesses contradicted each other and changed their stories. He also said some witness statements did not agree with the physical evidence.

On Aug. 9, around noon, Wilson shot Michael Brown, 18, after Brown took a $48 package of cigarillos from the Ferguson Market on West Florissant Avenue. Brown fled and then encountered Wilson, 28, who was sitting in his police SUV. Brown’s companion, Dorian Johnson, said Wilson ordered them to stop, then reached through the vehicle’s window and grabbed Brown by the neck. At least one shot was fired from the officer’s handgun. Brown then ran from the vehicle and Wilson chased him.

Some bystanders have said Brown put his hands up and was surrendering when he was shot. Others say he was shot in the back. Still others say Brown stopped running and turned aggressively toward Wilson. Brown was shot at least six times, including a fatal shot to the head. One shot may have hit him in the back, but the autopsy results are not conclusive.

“Law enforcement personnel must frequently make split second and difficult decisions. Officer Wilson followed his training and followed the law,” his lawyers said in a statement after the announcement.

Protests and violence followed the shooting. And protesters have been in Ferguson ever since.

Why McCulloch waited until night fell to announce the grand jury’s decision is not clear.

Although the county grand jury declined to indict Wilson, a federal investigation initiated by U.S. Attorney General William Holder continues.

“This is not just an issue for Ferguson,” the president said, noting the divisive the issues of race and police behavior that the Ferguson shooting brought to a head. “This is an issue for America.”

President Obama also urged the public to be patient and await the outcome of the federal civil rights investigation being conducted by the U.S. Justice Department.

In preparation for Monday night’s announcement, businesses in Ferguson boarded up their windows and school in some communities was cancelled for Tuesday. Michael Brown’s parents urged protesters to be peaceful.

“Michael Brown’s parents have lost more than anyone. We should be honoring their wishes,” the president said.

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