Killing of Michael Brown facts for kids
Location of Ferguson, Missouri, within St. Louis County, and St. Louis County within Missouri
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| Date | August 9, 2014 |
|---|---|
| Time | 12:01–12:03 p.m. (CDT) |
| Location | Ferguson, Missouri, U.S. |
| Type | Homicide, police shooting |
| Participants |
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| Deaths | Michael Brown |
| Non-fatal injuries | Darren Wilson |
| Charges | None |
| Litigation | Wrongful death lawsuit settled for undisclosed amount |
On August 9, 2014, Michael Brown, who was 18 years old, was shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson. This happened in Ferguson, Missouri, a town near St. Louis.
Brown was with his friend, Dorian Johnson, who was 22. Officer Wilson, who is white, said that Brown attacked him inside his police car. Wilson stated that Brown tried to take his gun. Johnson, however, said that Wilson started the fight. He claimed Wilson grabbed Brown by the neck through the car window and then shot him.
Both Wilson and Johnson agreed that Brown and Johnson ran away after the first shot. Wilson then chased Brown. Wilson said Brown stopped and ran back towards him. Johnson said Brown turned around with his hands up after Wilson shot at his back. Johnson stated that Wilson then shot Brown many times until he fell. Wilson fired twelve bullets in total. Brown was hit six times, all in the front of his body.
This event led to protests and unrest in Ferguson. Some witnesses said Brown had his hands up to surrender or said "don't shoot." Because of this, protesters later used the slogan "Hands up, don't shoot." An investigation by the FBI later said there was no proof Brown had done this. Protests, both peaceful and sometimes violent, went on for over a week. The police later set a curfew for the nights.
Many people, including the media and politicians, criticized how the police handled the protests. They worried about the police being insensitive and using too much force. The governor of Missouri, Jay Nixon, even ordered local police to let the Missouri State Highway Patrol take over much of the authority.
A grand jury looked at the evidence. On November 24, 2014, the grand jury decided not to charge Officer Wilson with a crime. In March 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice finished its own investigation. It found that Wilson did not violate Brown's civil rights. The Department of Justice said Wilson's story was supported by injuries on his face and Brown's DNA on his clothes. They concluded that Wilson shot Brown to protect himself.
In 2020, a new prosecutor, Wesley Bell, reviewed the case again. After five months, he also announced that Wilson would not be charged.
Contents
About Michael Brown and Darren Wilson
Michael Orlandus Darrion Brown was born on May 20, 1996, and died on August 9, 2014. He finished high school in St. Louis County just eight days before he died. He was 18 years old. He was about 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighed around 292 pounds. Michael enjoyed making rap music and shared his songs online. He was planning to start training for heating and air conditioning repair soon.
Darren Dean Wilson was born on May 14, 1986, in Fort Worth, Texas. He was about 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighed around 210 pounds. Wilson started his police career in 2009 in a town called Jennings, Missouri. He later joined the Ferguson Police Department in October 2011.
What Happened
At 11:47 a.m., Officer Wilson was responding to a call about a baby needing help. A few minutes later, Michael Brown was seen on camera taking cigars from a store and pushing a clerk. At 11:53 a.m., police dispatch reported a "stealing in progress" and described the suspect. Brown and Dorian Johnson left the store around 11:54 a.m.
Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson said that the cigar incident was not why Wilson stopped Brown. He said Wilson stopped them because they were walking in the middle of the street, blocking traffic.
At 12:00 p.m., Wilson reported he was back on duty. At 12:02 p.m., he called for backup. Wilson drove up to Brown and Johnson as they walked in the street. He told them to move to the sidewalk. Wilson then backed up his car close to them. A struggle happened between Brown and Wilson at the window of Wilson's police SUV. Wilson's gun fired twice during this struggle inside the car. One bullet hit Brown's right hand.
Brown and Johnson ran away. Johnson hid behind a car. Wilson got out of his car and chased Brown. At some point, Wilson fired his gun again, hitting Brown at least six times in the front of his body. Brown was not carrying a weapon and died on the street. The entire event, from when Wilson first saw Brown to when Brown died, lasted less than 90 seconds.
Other officers arrived at the scene shortly after. The St. Louis County police were called and arrived around 12:15 p.m. Brown's body was removed from the street around 4:00 p.m. Some people in the area were upset that Brown's body was left in the street for so long.
Investigations
Police Investigation
Officer Wilson shot Michael Brown around 12:02 p.m. The Ferguson Police Department arrived quickly. About 20 minutes after the shooting, the Ferguson police chief asked the St. Louis County Police Department (SLCPD) to take over the investigation. SLCPD detectives arrived about 70 minutes later. They set up screens around Brown's body. Their investigation was slow because of safety concerns due to gunfire sounds and crowds getting too close to the crime scene.
Department of Justice Investigation
On August 11, 2014, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) started its own investigation. This was to see if Michael Brown's civil rights were violated. Forty FBI agents went door-to-door looking for witnesses. Lawyers from the Civil Rights Division also joined the investigation.
On March 4, 2015, the federal investigation finished. It found no proof that Wilson violated Brown's civil rights. The investigation concluded that Wilson's story was believable. It also said that witnesses who disagreed with Wilson were not reliable. The evidence, including forensic findings, supported Wilson's account. The report stated there was no evidence Brown had his hands up in surrender. It also confirmed he was not shot in the back.
2020 Prosecutor Review
In 2020, a new St. Louis County prosecutor, Wesley Bell, looked at the case again. He spent five months reviewing everything to see if Wilson could be charged with a crime. In July, Bell announced that he would not charge Wilson. He stated there was not enough evidence to bring a charge against him.
Grand Jury Decision
A grand jury is a group of citizens who decide if there is enough evidence to bring criminal charges against someone. This grand jury had 12 members. Three were Black, and nine were white. This mix was similar to the population of St. Louis County.
The grand jury started hearing evidence on August 20, 2014. Their job was to decide if a crime was committed and if Wilson likely committed it. The prosecutor, Robert P. McCulloch, decided to do something unusual. He would let the grand jury hear all the evidence. He also said that if Wilson was not charged, all the information would be made public.
The grand jury took 25 days over three months to hear evidence. They reviewed more than 5,000 pages of testimony from 60 witnesses. Most grand juries finish their work in just a few days.
On November 24, Prosecutor McCulloch announced that the grand jury had decided not to charge Officer Wilson. After this, thousands of pages of grand jury documents were released to the public online. These included witness statements and expert reports.
Some people criticized McCulloch for how he handled the case. They felt he might not have been fair. However, McCulloch said he wanted to be transparent and present all the evidence.
Evidence
Shooting Scene
The shooting happened on Canfield Drive. The area where evidence was found stretched about 184 feet. Officer Wilson's police SUV was on the western side of the scene. Michael Brown's body was on the eastern side.
Near Wilson's SUV, police found two bracelets, a baseball cap, and two empty bullet casings. There were also red stains and a sandal near the driver's side of the vehicle. Brown's body was about 153 feet east of Wilson's SUV.
Near Brown's body, police found ten more empty bullet casings. These casings were spread out, suggesting that Officer Wilson might have been moving backward while firing. Blood spatter about 25 feet behind Brown's body suggested Brown was moving towards Wilson when he was shot.
DNA Evidence
Michael Brown's DNA was found on Wilson's gun. His DNA was also found on Wilson's pants and on the inside door handle of Wilson's police SUV. This was likely from Brown's blood. Wilson's DNA was found on Brown's left hand.
A medical examiner said that blood on Wilson's gun and inside the car, along with tissue from Brown on the outside of the car, showed there was a struggle. This evidence supported Wilson's story that Brown reached for his weapon.
Some police procedures were questioned. For example, Wilson washed blood from his hands before they were photographed. He also put his own gun into an evidence bag, which is not the usual way.
Autopsies
Three autopsies were done on Michael Brown's body. All three showed that he was shot at least six times. None of the shots were in his back.
The county autopsy report said Brown was shot in the front of his body. It noted wounds to his head, body, and right arm. There was also a wound on his right hand near his thumb. This wound showed signs of material from a gun firing very close. The shot to the top of Brown's head was instantly fatal. It was consistent with Brown either falling forward or lunging.
Brown's family asked for a second autopsy. This autopsy found that Brown was shot six times in the front. Four bullets hit his right arm, one hit his right eye, and one hit the top of his head. All shots were fired from at least one foot away. The bullet to the top of his head was the fatal injury.
The U.S. Attorney General ordered a third autopsy. Its findings matched the other two autopsies.
Audio Recording of Gunshots
An audio recording was released that seemed to capture the sounds of the shooting. It was made by someone recording a video message nearby. The 12-second recording had a series of shots, a short pause, and then more shots.
A forensic audio expert said he heard six shots, a pause, and then four more shots. Another company that specializes in gunfire technology also analyzed the recording. They found ten gunshots and seven echoes within seven seconds, with a three-second pause after the sixth shot. They also said all ten shots were fired from a small area, meaning the shooter was not moving much.
Witness Accounts
Many people saw parts of the event and shared their stories. However, their accounts often differed. This is common with eyewitness testimony.
An Associated Press review found that many witness statements had problems. Some were inconsistent or even made up. The prosecutor said he wanted to present all witnesses, even those who were "clearly not telling the truth."
The Department of Justice investigation found that witnesses who supported Wilson's story were believable. Those who disagreed with Wilson were not. For example, witnesses who said Brown had his hands up in surrender were found to be inconsistent with the physical evidence. Some witnesses who supported Wilson's account said they were afraid to speak out. They feared being harassed by people in the community.
Wilson's Story
Officer Wilson told his story to a detective and the grand jury. He said he heard about a theft at a store. Soon after, he saw two Black males walking in the middle of the street. He told them to move to the sidewalk.
Wilson said he backed up his car. He tried to open his door, but Brown pushed it shut. Wilson said Brown then started punching him through the car window. Wilson felt like he was fighting someone much stronger. He tried to use his mace or baton but couldn't reach them. He then pulled out his gun and told Brown to stop or he would shoot.
Wilson said he pushed Brown's hand away from his gun. The gun fired twice. Brown then ran away. Wilson got out of his car and chased Brown, telling him to stop. Wilson said Brown eventually stopped, turned around, and ran back towards him with his hand under his shirt. Wilson fired multiple shots. He paused and told Brown to get on the ground again, but Brown kept coming. Wilson fired more shots. When Brown was about eight to ten feet away, Wilson fired more shots, hitting Brown in the head. Brown fell with his hand still in his waistband.
Stories Supporting Wilson
Many witnesses told stories that matched Wilson's account and the physical evidence. They said Wilson acted in self-defense. Some of these witnesses were afraid to testify because they feared backlash from the community.
- Witness 102, a 27-year-old biracial male, said he saw Brown turn around and charge at Wilson. He believed Wilson's life was in danger.
- Witness 103, a 58-year-old Black male, said he saw Brown punching Wilson through the car window. He then heard a gunshot and saw Brown run away. He later saw Brown turn and move fast towards Wilson.
- Witness 108, a 74-year-old Black male, said Wilson was "in the right." He heard Wilson tell Brown to "stop" or "get down" many times, but Brown "charged" at him instead.
- Witness 109, a 53-year-old Black male, came forward after seeing Dorian Johnson's story on TV, which he felt was a "lie." He said Brown hit Wilson and then ran away but turned around and charged at the officer. He believed Wilson fired in self-defense.
- Witness 113, a 31-year-old Black female, also supported Wilson's account. She was afraid of community backlash for her testimony. She thought Wilson's life was in danger.
- Witness 136 recorded an audio clip of the gunshots on his phone. This recording showed several volleys of shots with brief pauses, which matched Wilson's story.
Stories Against Wilson
Some witnesses originally testified against Wilson but later admitted they had lied.
- Witness 22 first claimed she saw Wilson kill Brown in cold blood. She later admitted she lied and had not seen the incident.
- Another witness claimed Brown was "on his knees" when Wilson shot him in the head. Under questioning, this story fell apart, and the witness admitted making it up.
- Another witness said Brown was on his hands and knees begging for his life. However, investigators found this was not possible based on the evidence.
Dorian Johnson's Story
Dorian Johnson, who was with Michael Brown, also shared his story. He said that he and Brown were walking when Wilson stopped them. Johnson said Wilson tried to open his car door, but it bounced off them. He claimed Wilson then grabbed Brown by the neck through the car window. Johnson said Brown did not reach for the officer's gun. He said Wilson drew his gun and said, "I'll shoot you," then fired, hitting Brown.
Johnson said they both ran away. He claimed Wilson fired several shots at Brown's back, hitting him once. Johnson said Brown then turned around with his hands raised and said, "I don't have a gun. Stop shooting!" Johnson stated that Wilson then shot Brown several more times, killing him. In his grand jury testimony, Johnson maintained that Brown did not run at Wilson before the final shots.
Aftermath
On September 24, Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson publicly apologized to Michael Brown's family. Five months later, on March 12, he resigned from the Ferguson Police Department. Officer Wilson resigned from the Ferguson police force on November 29, saying he did not want to put other officers at risk. His lawyer said Wilson would never be a police officer again.
President Barack Obama announced that the government would spend $75 million on body cameras for police officers. This was one of the changes made after the shooting.
In August 2018, the prosecutor Bob McCulloch lost his re-election to Wesley Bell. This ended McCulloch's 28 years in office.
"Hands up, don't shoot"
"Hands up, don't shoot" became a well-known slogan and gesture. It started from this incident and was used in protests across the United States. It became a symbol against police violence.
However, the U.S. Department of Justice report on March 4, 2015, stated that there was no witness who said Brown had his hands up in surrender whose story matched the physical evidence. The report also said that their investigation found no witness who stated that Brown said "don't shoot."
Related Events
On December 20, two police officers in New York City were shot and killed. The suspected shooter had posted online that he wanted to kill police officers because of the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner.
On March 12, 2015, two police officers were wounded by gunfire outside the Ferguson police headquarters during a protest. A 20-year-old man was arrested in connection with the shooting.
One year after Michael Brown's death, on August 9, 2015, 18-year-old Tyrone Harris, a friend of Brown, was shot by police in Ferguson. On the same day, a police association in Columbia, Missouri, declared "Darren Wilson Day." They called Wilson an "innocent, but persecuted, officer."
DOJ Investigation into Ferguson Police Department
On September 5, 2014, the U.S. Department of Justice started a separate investigation into the Ferguson Police Department. They wanted to see if officers regularly treated African Americans unfairly or used too much force.
The investigation's results were released on March 4, 2015. The report found that officers in Ferguson often violated the rights of the city's residents. It stated that they discriminated against African Americans and used racial stereotypes. The report also focused on how the police issued warrants for minor offenses, often related to unpaid traffic tickets.
Brown Family Lawsuit
On April 23, 2015, Michael Brown's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit. They sued Wilson, the police chief, and the City of Ferguson. They asked for money for damages.
On June 20, 2017, a judge approved a settlement between Brown's parents and the city of Ferguson. The details of the agreement, including the amount of money, were kept private. However, a Ferguson city attorney later said that the city's insurance company paid $1.5 million.
New Police Chief
On May 9, 2016, Delrish Moss became the first permanent African American police chief in Ferguson. He was a police veteran from Miami and known for his work in community relations. He said his goals included making the police force more diverse and improving relationships with the community.
Michael Brown's Mother Runs for City Council
On April 25, 2018, Michael Brown's mother, Lezley McSpadden, announced she would run for City Council in Ferguson. She did not win the election.
See also
- List of unarmed African Americans killed by law enforcement officers in the United States
- Black Lives Matter
- List of incidents of civil unrest in the United States
- List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States
- List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States, August 2014
- Mothers of the Movement
- Killing of Alton Sterling
- Killing of Philando Castile
- Killing of Tamir Rice
- Killing of Walter Scott
- Murder of George Floyd
- Murder of Laquan McDonald
- Killing of Breonna Taylor
