What We Know About the Police Shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown

Michael Brown was unarmed when he was shot and killed.

By
COLLEEN CURRY
August 11, 2014, 3:07 PM ET
1 min read

Aug. 11, 2014— -- The police shooting of an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Mo., over the weekend has sparked outrage in the community and across the nation, including on social media.

The investigation into why Michael Brown, 18, was shot is just beginning, and the FBI said it has opened its own investigation. In addition, the police chief said today he would release the identity of the police officer involved.

Here are the facts we currently know about the events on Saturday.

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Timeline

  • Around 12 p.m., Saturday: A police officer encounters two people, including Brown, on the street near an apartment complex in Ferguson.
  • One of the men allegedly pushed the officer back into his squad car and a struggle begins, authorities state.
  • One shot is fired from the officer's gun inside the police car.
  • The struggle spills onto the street and Brown is shot multiple times. Police say there were "more than just a couple" of shots that struck Brown.
  • Shell casings show that the bullets are from the officer's gun.

    • Michael Brown

  • Age: 18
  • Ethnicity: African American
  • Recently graduated high school, and family said he was about to start college
  • Was not carrying a weapon

    • The Officer

  • The officer was employed by Ferguson police department.
  • Has not been named or identified.
  • Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson said he would announce the officer's name sometime Monday or Tuesday.
  • The officer been placed on administrative leave pending investigation.

    • The Investigation

  • Police said they are not sure whether Brown was the individual who pushed the officer, and are not sure what the struggle was about. They are also not sure whether the other individual with Brown was armed.
  • Witness Piaget Crenshaw said she saw Brown facing the cop and holding his arms up just before he was shot.
  • St. Louis County police are investigating the shooting.
  • The Justice Department has said they are reviewing the matter.

    • The Aftermath

  • Residents of Ferguson, Mo., were outraged by the shooting and have been protesting at the police station, demanding a full investigation.
  • A candlelight vigil for Brown was held Sunday evening. After the vigil, violence erupted as crowds looted and vandalized stores and vehicles, resulting in 32 arrests and confrontations with police.
  • The NAACP condemned the shooting. "We're outraged because yet again a young African-American man has been killed by law enforcement," said John Gaskin, who serves on both the St. Louis County and national boards of directors for the NAACP.
  • The Rev. Al Sharpton called the shooting "very disturbing" and said he planned to go to Ferguson to meet with the family.