No Indictment for Ferguson Cop

A ruling came down on Monday in the death of Michael Brown, the unarmed, black 18 year old who was fatally shot by a white officer. A grand jury of nine whites and three blacks decided to not indict Officer Darren Wilson for Brown’s death.

According to the Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch, the jury met for 25 days and heard over 70 hours worth of testimony from witnesses, medical examiners, toxicologist, and firearm experts. The ruling, McCulloh says, was more than likely due to the inconsistencies between physical evidence and witness testimonies.

“These grand jurors poured their hearts and soul into this process,” he said.

The parents of Michael Brown were said to be “profoundly disappointed” by the jury’s decision. Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden, burst into to tears and began screaming when the decision was announced. Crowds poured into the streets to protest the non-indictment. News reports states that angry crowds began vandalizing cars and taunting police. However, the police released smoke and pepper spray to subdue the crowd.

Despite the heartbreak felt by Brown’s supporters, the family has asked that the citizens of Ferguson act accordingly and “channel your frustration in ways that will make a positive change. We need to work together to fix the system that allowed this to happen.”

A separate investigation into possible civil rights violations are being conducted by the Justice Department. If found guilty, the Ferguson police department could face federal charges.