Advertisement

No Ferguson grand jury decision this weekend

The grand jury that has been hearing the case will reconvene on Monday

By UPI Staff
Police detain a demonstrator protesting the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown on November 20, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Tensions are high in Ferguson as a grand jury is expected to announce their findings in the August 9 shooting death of Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager, by police officer Darren Wilson. UPI/Lawrence Bryant
Police detain a demonstrator protesting the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown on November 20, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Tensions are high in Ferguson as a grand jury is expected to announce their findings in the August 9 shooting death of Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager, by police officer Darren Wilson. UPI/Lawrence Bryant | License Photo

FERGUSON, Mo., Nov. 22 (UPI) -- No decision will come this weekend from the grand jury that is considering possible charges against the Ferguson police officer who fatally shot Michael Brown.

The shooting led to weeks of street protests and increased racial tensions in the city.

Advertisement

The St. Louis grand jury that has been hearing the case will meet again on Monday.

Civic activists and people in and around Ferguson have been awaiting a decision about whether police officer Darren Wilson, who is white, will be criminally charged for the Aug. 9 shooting death of Brown, 18, an African-American. Public safety personnel were reported to be easing back on their alert status on Saturday and 12-hour police shifts that had been planned are now expected to begin on Sunday.

Preparations have been in place for the protests that are expected if Wilson is not charged. Along with the police response, Gov. Jay Nixon has activated the National Guard in order to have extra protection in some areas.

The circumstances surrounding Wilson's shooting of Brown have been in dispute ever since the incident played out in a Ferguson street after an alleged earlier theft from a nearby store.

Advertisement

Police officials have said Wilson was inside his police SUV, struggling with Brown through an open window when at least one shot was fired, hitting Brown in the hand. No one disputes that Brown then began to run.

However, witness accounts have differed as to whether Brown was surrendering or whether he was moving toward Wilson when he was struck from the front with up to seven shots.

Latest Headlines