Justice Department to Perform Autopsy on Michael Brown

— -- The Justice Department will perform its own autopsy on the body of Michael Brown as part of its independent investigation into the Missouri teenager's shooting death, officials announced today.

"Due to the extraordinary circumstances involved in this case and at the request of the Brown family, Attorney General Holder has instructed Justice Department officials to arrange for an additional autopsy to be performed by a federal medical examiner," the Justice Department said in a statement today.

The autopsy will take place "as soon as possible."

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In addition to the Justice Department's autopsy, the St. Louis County Medical Examiner and forensic pathologist Michael Baden, who was hired by the Brown family, are conducting their own autopsies.

According to preliminary results from the county's autopsy, Brown died from gunshot wounds. Justice Department officials will also consider that autopsy in their investigation.

Brown was killed last Saturday when he was shot by a Ferguson police officer, identified by the department as Darren Wilson. The shooting has sparked protests and racial tensions in the city, and the state has since imposed a curfew that began today.