US town of Ferguson burns in rage after killing of an unarmed black teen
Ferguson, United States: The policeman whose killing of an unarmed black teen sparked weeks of riots in the US town of Ferguson will not face charges, the county prosecutor said, amid mounting anger in the streets.
The tearful family of 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was shot dead in August, expressed profound disappointment after St Louis County prosecutor Robert McCulloch relayed the grand jury’s decision.
McCulloch told reporters the evidence presented to the grand jury had suggested Wilson had shot as a legitimate act of self-defense during a tussle that broke out as he was responding to robbery.
He said “an altercation” had broken out as Wilson was sitting in his patrol car and Brown was standing at the window. “During the altercation, two shots were fired by Officer Wilson while still inside the vehicle,” McCulloch said. Having examined the physical evidence and listened to witness testimony behind closed doors, the jury said Wilson had no case to answer.
Film emerges of tween killing
Cleveland: An officer was less than 10 feet (3 meters) away when he fatally shot a 12-year-old boy carrying a pellet gun near a playground, and video of the shooting is clear about what happened, police said on Monday.
The boy was confronted Saturday by officers responding to an emergency call about a male who appeared to be pulling a gun in and out of his pants. The caller said the gun was “probably fake,” then added, “I don't know if it's real or not.” Deputy Chief Edward Tomba said that he didn't know whether a dispatcher shared that information with responding officers.
The president of the Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association said the officers weren’t told the caller thought the gun might be fake. Police say Tamir Rice, who died on Sunday, had an “airsoft” gun that appeared indistinguishable from a real firearm. Tamir’s gun did not have the orange Airsoft guns fire spherical plastic pellets to show they aren’t real firearms.
