The New York Times reports that the Ferguson police officer who fatally shot unarmed teen, Michael Brown has given his story to investigators.
According to government officials briefed on the federal civil rights investigation, Officer Darren Wilson says that he was pinned in his vehicle and in fear for his life as he struggled over his gun with Brown.
Darren Wilson, has told the authorities that during the scuffle, Mr. Brown reached for the gun. It was fired twice in the car, according to forensics tests performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The first bullet struck Mr. Brown in the arm; the second bullet missed.
The forensics tests showed Mr. Brown’s blood on the gun, as well as on the interior door panel and on Officer Wilson’s uniform. Officer Wilson told the authorities that Mr. Brown had punched and scratched him repeatedly, leaving swelling on his face and cuts on his neck.
This is the first public account of Officer Wilson’s testimony to investigators, but it does not explain why, after he emerged from his vehicle, he fired at Mr. Brown multiple times. It contradicts some witness accounts, and it will not calm those who have been demanding to know why an unarmed man was shot a total of six times. Mr. Brown’s death continues to fuel anger and sometimes-violent protests.
Meanwhile, Michael Brown’s family’s attorney, Benjamin Crump, claims it doesn’t matter what Wilson says. The case needs to court to court. Period.
“What the police say is not to be taken as gospel,” Crump told the Times, adding that Officer Wilson should be indicted by the grand jury and his case sent to trial. “He can say what he wants to say in front of a jury. They can listen to all the evidence and the people can have it transparent so they know that the system works for everybody.”
Get the FULL story at NY Times.
