Violence erupts as Ferguson police wont face charges over black teenager's death
- 9 years ago
Violence as broken out in Ferguson over a Missouri grand jury’s decision that a white policeman will not face criminal charges over the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager.
Gunshots and tear gas were fired in the St Louis suburb as angry crowds took the streets in the area where 18-year-old Michael Brown was killed in August.
Officer Darren Wilson could have faced charges ranging from involuntary manslaughter to first-degree murder. The Brown family say they are “profoundly disappointed” with the grand jury’s decision.
In response to the ruling, US President Barack Obama called for peaceful demonstrations.
“First and foremost, we are a nation built on the rule of law. And so we need to accept that this decision was the grand jury’s to make. There are Americans who agree with it, and there are Americans who are deeply disappointed, even angry. It’s an understandable reaction. But I join Michael’s parents in asking anyone who protests this decision to do so peacefully,” said Obama.
There are reports that a police officer has been shot and wounded but it is unclear whether it’s related to the street protests.
A federal probe into the shooting of Michael Brown is continuing amid calls for police officers to now be equipped with personal video cameras.
Gunshots and tear gas were fired in the St Louis suburb as angry crowds took the streets in the area where 18-year-old Michael Brown was killed in August.
Officer Darren Wilson could have faced charges ranging from involuntary manslaughter to first-degree murder. The Brown family say they are “profoundly disappointed” with the grand jury’s decision.
In response to the ruling, US President Barack Obama called for peaceful demonstrations.
“First and foremost, we are a nation built on the rule of law. And so we need to accept that this decision was the grand jury’s to make. There are Americans who agree with it, and there are Americans who are deeply disappointed, even angry. It’s an understandable reaction. But I join Michael’s parents in asking anyone who protests this decision to do so peacefully,” said Obama.
There are reports that a police officer has been shot and wounded but it is unclear whether it’s related to the street protests.
A federal probe into the shooting of Michael Brown is continuing amid calls for police officers to now be equipped with personal video cameras.