• About
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Write for us
  • Contact
  • Terms of service
No Result
View All Result
Thursday, March 4, 2021
THE MILLENNIAL SOURCE
  • World
  • US
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Profiles
  • Lifestyle
    • Food & Travel
    • Tech & Money
    • Health
    • Entertainment
  • Newsletter
TMS
No Result
View All Result
Home WORLD

No charges for Missouri police officer Darren Wilson following probe over Michael Brown shooting

byThe Millennial Source
July 31, 2020
in WORLD
Reading Time: 4 minute read
No charges after probe over Michael Brown shooting by Missouri police officer Darren Wilson
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin



On Thursday, United States St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell stated in a news conference that no charges will be brought against Darren Wilson, a white former police officer, over the shooting and death in 2014 of Michael Brown, a Black teenager.

According to a 2015 report by the Justice Department, Brown was 18 when confronted by Wilson on a quiet residential street. Wilson testified later that he was responding to a complaint against theft when he approached Brown.

A struggle ensued near Wilson’s vehicle that led to a chase down the street, culminating in Wilson shooting Brown at least six times and killing him. Wilson later claimed it was in self defense. However, multiple witnesses reported that Brown had his hands up when he was fatally shot. 

Brown’s body was left in the street for hours by the authorities after he died. 

“Hands up don’t shoot”

Brown’s killing led to months of protests in Ferguson, a suburb of St. Louis, and launched the Black Lives Matter movement amid the nationwide attention the killing brought to systemic racism in law enforcement.

“Hands up, don’t shoot” became the rallying cry of the movement. 

The decision to not press charges against Wilson comes as the nation is once again drawn to the issues of the Black Lives Matter Movement, this time ignited by the June 25 killing of George Floyd, a Black man, by Derek Chauvin, a white former police officer.

Bell’s predecessor, Robert McCulloch, also pressed no charges against Wilson, passing the case to a grand jury, which in turn did not indict Wilson. 

The Justice Department’s 2015 report lambasted the St. Louis police department’s “pattern of unconstitutional policing” and its actions that “reflect and exacerbate existing racial bias” but found no charges against Wilson.

When Bell replaced McCulloch in 2019, Brown’s family and civil rights advocates pressed for the case to be reopened again. Bell reopened the case earlier this year. 

Following a five-month independent investigation, Bell determined on Thursday that no charges can be pressed against Wilson, citing lack of evidence in witness statements, forensic reports and other documents. 

In the news conference, Bell said, “Although this case represents one of the most significant moments in St. Louis’ history, the question for this office was a simple one. Could we prove beyond a reasonable doubt that when Darren Wilson shot Michael Brown, he committed murder or manslaughter under Missouri law?

“After an independent and in-depth review of the evidence, we cannot prove that he did.

“This is one of the most difficult things I’ve had to do as an elected official,” Bell added. “Michael Brown’s death exposed to the nation a deep-seated and long-standing pain felt by the greater St. Louis community and the entire country.”

Bell noted, however, that the investigation “does not exonerate Darren Wilson”, meaning the decision does not indicate Darren committed no wrongdoing. 

“There are so many points in which Darren Wilson could have handled the situation differently, and if he had, Michael Brown might still be alive.”

The decision attracted criticism from activists. 

Brittany Packnett Cunningham, Ferguson activist and member of former President Barack Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing tweeted, “I’d have to believe the criminal system was ever built to protect Black people in order to be disappointed.”

I’d have to believe the criminal system was ever built to protect Black people in order to be disappointed.

I finally just sat down from running around, and it hit me that I’ve got no more shock left. #MikeBrown’s family deserves so much more.

— brittany packnett cunningham does not do remixes. (@MsPackyetti) July 30, 2020

“I finally just sat down from running around, and it hit me that I’ve got no more shock left. #MikeBrown’s family deserves so much more.”

Have a tip or story? Get in touch with our reporters at [email protected]source.com

Like TMS? Subscribe to our free daily newsletter

Related

Tags: North AmericaShort read
ShareTweetShare

Latest Posts

The future of cryptocurrency

The future of cryptocurrency

March 3, 2021
After an ascendant 2020, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is having a terrible 2021

After an ascendant 2020, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is having a terrible 2021

March 3, 2021
The Biden administration's changes to the Paycheck Protection Program

The Biden administration’s changes to the Paycheck Protection Program

March 2, 2021

What are NFTs?

March 2, 2021

The Dasgupta Review offers economically viable solutions for combating climate change

March 2, 2021

Here are the biggest take-aways from CPAC 2021

March 1, 2021

LinkedIn is launching its own service for freelancers

March 1, 2021

The House passed a COVID relief bill. What’s in it?

February 28, 2021

The Dasgupta Review urges us to rethink the economics of climate change and nature

February 28, 2021
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Write for us
  • Contact
  • Terms of service

© 2020 The Millennial Source Ltd.

No Result
View All Result
  • World
  • US
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Profiles
  • Lifestyle
    • Food & Travel
    • Tech & Money
    • Health
    • Entertainment
  • Newsletter

© 2020 The Millennial Source Ltd.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

The Millennial Source
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.