Ferguson Grand Jury result - Amid nationwide anticipation, the St. Louis grand jury has announced that Officer Darren Wilson will not be indicted for killing 18 years old Michael Brown.
St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCullough announced the Ferguson grand jury result on Monday. The jury, which is made of 12 randomly selected citizens, includes six Caucasian men and three women, as well as one African American man and two women.
The Ferguson grand jury result was reportedly reached after 25 days of deliberation. The jury also heard reports from over 60 witnesses and listened to over 70 hours of testimony.
Mike Brown, an unarmed African American teenager, was shot 12 times by Officer Wilson on the Aug. 9th in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, MO.
Brown's death sparked months of violent protests and there are concerns that there will be more unrest in light of the Ferguson grand jury result. Protesters have reportedly threatened to take their displeasure to other parts of St. Louis and other states across the country.
In anticipation of the Ferguson verdict, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency and called on 400 National Guard to help quell protests.
"We are profoundly disappointed that the killer of our child will not face the consequence of his actions," Brown's family said in a statement. "While we understand that many others share our pain, we ask that you channel your frustration in ways that will make positive change. We need to work together to fix the system that allowed this to happen."
Reports indicate that transcripts of the grand jury's proceedings would be released to the public. McCullough explained that the jury arrived at the Ferguson verdict after a balanced assessment of the case.
Meanwhile, Officer Wilson's lawyers have released a statement regarding the Ferguson verdict. "From the onset, we have maintained and the grand jury agreed that Officer Wilson's actions on August 9 were on accordance with the laws and regulations that govern the procedures of an officer," they said. "Law enforcement personnel must frequently make split-second and difficult decisions. Officer Wilson followed his training and followed the law."
Critics say the Ferguson verdict was reached largely based on the contradictory statements made by witnesses.
For Officer Wilson to be charged with the murder of Brown, a majority of the jury members must vote yes to indict him.
Meanwhile, President Obama has also issued a statement concerning the jury's Ferguson verdict. "I join Michael's parents in asking anyone who protests this decision to do so peacefully," he said. "Let me repeat Michael's father's words: Hurting others or destroying property is not the answer. No matter what the grand jury decides, I do not want my son's death to be in vain."
While the Ferguson grand jury result closes one of the most chaotic chapters in American history, it also opens up questions about law enforcement and racism in the country.
