Eric Michael Brown: Lawbreaker Or Not?

On August 9, 2014, 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri. The incident sparked protests and civil unrest across the United States, with many calling for justice and an end to police brutality against Black Americans. In the aftermath, questions arose about whether Eric Michael Brown, a different person from the victim, was breaking the law. While there is limited information specifically about Eric Michael Brown, the broader context of the Michael Brown case and the issues it brought to light are worth examining.

The shooting of Michael Brown highlighted deep-seated racial tensions and injustices within the US law enforcement system. Protests erupted across the nation, with people demanding accountability and an end to systemic racism. The case also brought attention to the issue of police violence and the need for reform. In the years following Michael Brown's death, there have been continued calls for justice and efforts to address racial inequality and bias within policing.

While the focus of this query is on Eric Michael Brown, the impact and implications of the Michael Brown case are important to acknowledge. The shooting death of Michael Brown and the subsequent response shed light on the complex and often contentious relationship between law enforcement and communities of color in the United States.

Was the killing of Eric Michael Brown a result of racial bias?

On August 9, 2014, 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown's friend, Dorian Johnson, who was with him at the time, recounted that Wilson initiated a confrontation by grabbing Brown by the neck through his patrol car window, threatening him, and then shooting at him. Johnson also stated that Brown turned around with his hands raised after Wilson shot at his back. In the entire altercation, Wilson fired a total of twelve bullets, six of which struck Brown in the front of his body.

The event sparked protests and riots in Ferguson, with witnesses claiming that Brown had his hands up in surrender or said "don't shoot". A subsequent FBI investigation found no evidence to support these claims. A grand jury was called, and the St. Louis County prosecutor, Robert McCulloch, announced on November 24, 2014, that the jury had decided not to indict Wilson. In March 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice cleared Wilson of civil rights violations in the shooting, concluding that he had acted in self-defense. This decision was supported by bruising on Wilson's body and the presence of Brown's DNA on his collar, shirt, and pants.

The killing of Michael Brown has sparked debates about racial bias and police violence. Some argue that the incident reflects a broader pattern of racial bias and excessive use of force by law enforcement against African Americans. In 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice released a report detailing a pattern of unconstitutional practices by the Ferguson Police Department, including unreasonable searches and seizures and excessive use of force, which disproportionately affected African Americans. The report also highlighted a culture of revenue generation through policing, with officers issuing an excessive number of citations and fines.

The case of Michael Brown has had a significant impact and sparked a national conversation about police accountability, racial justice, and the need to rebuild trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. While some argue for increased diversity and sensitivity training for police officers, others believe that the police are an inherently oppressive force, and more fundamental changes are needed to address systemic racial bias and injustice.

Was Darren Wilson charged with manslaughter or murder?

On August 9, 2014, Darren Wilson, a white police officer, shot and killed Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old black man, in Ferguson, Missouri. A grand jury was called to decide whether Wilson should be indicted for the shooting. On November 24, 2014, the jury decided not to indict Wilson, meaning he would not be charged with any crime and would face no criminal consequences.

In 2020, St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell reviewed the case to consider charging Wilson with manslaughter or murder. In July, Bell announced that Wilson would not be charged, stating that he did not "have the evidence to ethically bring a charge".

What was the public reaction to the killing of Eric Michael Brown?

The killing of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, on August 9, 2014, sparked protests and civil disorder in the area, as well as across the United States. The unrest was partly due to the belief that Brown was surrendering when he was shot, as well as long-standing racial tensions between the minority-black population and the majority-white city government and police.

The slogan "Hands up, don't shoot" became a rallying cry against police violence, with protesters in Ferguson and across the country using the gesture. Brown's family also condemned the shooting and discouraged any violence against police in the future.

The public reaction to Brown's killing was mixed. While some people protested the shooting, others criticised the response of the area's police agencies, saying they were insensitive, used inappropriate tactics, and had a militarised response.

There was also criticism of the way information about the case was released by the police, with the Department of Justice saying that the Ferguson Police Department's release of a video showing Brown robbing a convenience store would inflame tensions.

The grand jury's decision not to indict the police officer who shot Brown was also met with criticism, with some saying the process was atypical and influenced by the prosecutor's unorthodox approach.

The killing of Brown and the subsequent exoneration of the police officer set off a wave of protests across the US that questioned police tactics and race relations in the country.

Did the police follow protocol after the killing of Eric Michael Brown?

On August 9, 2014, 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was accompanied by his 22-year-old friend, Dorian Johnson. Wilson, a white male Ferguson police officer, stated that Brown attacked him in his police vehicle for control of his service pistol, and that an altercation ensued. Johnson contradicted this account, stating that Wilson initiated a confrontation by grabbing Brown by the neck through the patrol car window, threatening him, and then shooting at him.

The police response to the shooting of Michael Brown has been widely criticised. The FBI opened a civil rights investigation into the incident, and 40 FBI agents went door-to-door looking for potential witnesses. However, the investigation cleared Wilson of civil rights violations in the shooting, concluding that Wilson's account was "corroborated by bruising on Wilson's jaw and scratches on his neck, the presence of Brown's DNA on Wilson's collar, shirt and pants, and Wilson's DNA on Brown's palm". The investigation also found that witnesses who corroborated Wilson's account were credible, while those who contradicted it were not.

The response of area police agencies in dealing with the subsequent protests was strongly criticised by both the media and politicians. Concerns were raised over insensitivity, tactics, and a militarised response. Police in armoured vehicles and military gear responded to the protests with tear gas and rubber bullets. It took 70 minutes for the St. Louis County detectives to arrive at the scene, and Brown's body was left in the street for four hours, which was seen as demeaning and disrespectful.

Was Darren Wilson's use of force excessive?

On August 9, 2014, 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri. Wilson, a white male Ferguson police officer, said that an altercation ensued when Brown attacked him in his police vehicle for control of Wilson's service pistol. Wilson's account of the incident was that he politely asked Brown and his friend, Dorian Johnson, to use the sidewalk. He claims that Brown responded with "fuck what you have to say" and then proceeded to slam the car door on him and punch him through the open window. Wilson then reached for his gun, which Brown allegedly dared him to use, saying, "You're too much of a fucking pussy to shoot me." Wilson fired his gun, shattering the glass, and Brown backed up before diving back into the car to attack Wilson again. Wilson exited the car and gave chase, yelling at Brown to get down on the ground. Brown ran about 20-30 feet away from the car and then charged another 10 feet back towards Wilson. Wilson fired multiple shots, and Brown was killed.

Wilson's account of the incident has been deemed unbelievable by some, and has raised more questions than it has answered. It is difficult to reconcile Wilson's description of events with what we know of Michael Brown. Brown wasn't a hardened felon and didn't have a death wish. While he might have been stoned, this isn't how stoned people typically act. Furthermore, the toxicology report did not indicate he was on PCP or anything else that would have led to suicidal aggression.

However, a grand jury decided not to indict Wilson, and the U.S. Department of Justice cleared him of civil rights violations in the shooting, concluding that his use of force was defensible. The report supported Wilson's contention that Brown had been advancing towards him and was not shot in the back. It also found that there was no evidence to support witness accounts that Brown had his hands up in surrender.

While Wilson has been exonerated of criminal wrongdoing, the Justice Department did find that the town of Ferguson was characterized by deep-seated racism, with local authorities targeting and disproportionately arresting and fining black residents. Wilson was part of this corrupt and racist system, but there is no evidence that he violated protocol in his interaction with Brown.

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