Former Cop Who Fatally Shot Michael Brown Will Not Be Charged Following New Investigation
As we previously reported, the white police officer who shot and killed Michael Brown, a Black teenager, in Ferguson, Mo., was cleared by a grand jury and a federal investigation back in 2014. Six years later, a new investigation has come to the same conclusion as the first: Darren Wilson will not be charged for his death.
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Following a “reexamination” into the case,
St. Louis County prosecuting attorney Wesley Bell announced in a press conference on Thursday that his office could not find concrete evidence to charge Wilson with murder or manslaughter under Missouri law. Bell claims that investigators conducted a “five-month review” of the incident “because of the significance of this case to this community and because the family asked.”
“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,” he said. “After an independent and in-depth review of the evidence, we cannot prove that he did.”
The prosecutors said “out of respect for Michael Brown and his family” his office does not intend to re-litigate the evidence in the case but noted that “Our investigation does not exonerate Darren Wilson.” “The question of whether we can prove a case at trial is different than clearing him of any and all wrong-doings,” he said.
Wilson shot Brown, who was not armed, after a struggle ensued when Wilson stopped Brown on a Ferguson street. Multiple Witnesses said at the time that the officer fired his gun while Brown’s hands were in the air. Wilson clismed Brown attacked him, and he feared for his life.
Brown’s family filed a civil lawsuit against the city of Ferguson under the Missouri’s wrongful death statute in 2015. The family later settled with the city two years later for $1.5 million, NBC News reported.
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