The debate of the unfair death of 18-year-old Michael Brown brings light to the unjust actions of the police and judicial system. The recent shooting of Michael Brown has stirred anger and bitterness in the mostly African American community of Ferguson. Protestors are claiming that Officer Darren Wilson, the police officer who killed Brown on August 9th, illegally killed the young, 18 year old boy. Police officers should not be shooting anyone unless they feel as if their life or anyone else’s life is in danger. Currently, the stories of witnesses and police are different. According to the St. Louis County police, Wilson stepped out of his car, but Brown pushed him. Short after, a struggle ensued in the car, and Brown attempted to take the …show more content…
The officer then slammed his brakes, reversed his car, and tried to open the door of his car. The door hit Brown and closed. Johnson stated that after a series of “tug-of-war” between Wilson and Brown, Wilson shot Johnson. According to Johnson, Wilson ran, turned around, and said, “‘I don’t have a gun, stop shooting!’” (Levy). Yet, the officer continued to shoot and fired several more shots. Was it necessary for Officer Wilson to shoot Brown? Peter Joy, a criminal justice expert at the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, states that “the central question in cases like this [is]...‘[Was] there a reasonable risk of harm?’” (Levy). More than one witness can account for Brown’s defense. Brown and Johnson were two inexperienced and naive young adults. They were unfairly judged because of their race and were two victims of racism. Although there were conflicting exchanges of physical altercation between Brown and Wilson, none of them rise to the level that justifies lethal force. “‘International standards provide that law enforcement officers should only use force as a last resort’”
On August 9, 2014 a white male police officer named Darren Wilson fatally shot an African-American male named Michael Brown to death in Ferguson, MO. An investigation was immediately launched through the collection of evidence from the crime scene, an autopsy of Michael Brown’s body, and interviews with witnesses. For several months following the shooting and after the Grand Jury met, there was immense public speculation over whether Officer Wilson justifiably shot in self-defense or in racially motivated cold blooded murder. The ballistic evidence collected from the crime scene and from the autopsy corroborated Wilson’s story that he was justified in what transpired that fateful afternoon.
The incident happened August 9th, 2014. Wilson stopped Brown due to him matching a robbery suspect description. At some point during the detainment a struggle ensued, which resulted in Brown attempting to grab Wilson’s firearm. Wilson then fired one or two rounds through the door striking Brown. Officer Wilson then gave pursuit on foot and ordered Brown to stop. Brown attempted to charge Wilson at which time Wilson fired multiple shots fatally wounding Brown. Criminal investigation deemed that Wilson’s actions were in self-defense. Also noted Brown did assault Wilson, and DNA evidence showed Brown grabbed Wilson’s weapon. An incident as such can bring lawsuits against the officer or officers
The officer, Darren Wilson who shot Michael Brown proved that he was acting in the matter of self-defense. Michael Brown assaulted Officer Darren Wilson who never used his gun before this incident. Officer Darren Wilson, to protect his own life had to go to last resort and shoot Michael Brown. According to the article, “Michael Brown
All of this evidence paints a picture that Officer Wilson was engaged in a fight with Michael Brown and that his life was in danger. Previous court cases justify Officer Wilson’s lethal actions. Two Supreme Court cases that can be applied to this shooting are Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1 (1985) and Graham v. Conner, 490 U.S. 396
From the discussion, it is clear that the police officers employ more deadly force than African- Americans males. This discussion has provided many incidents that show that police use deadly force against African-American males. The shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed African-American male by police officer Darren Wilson is a case in point. Chief of police, Tom Jackson initially refused to acknowledge use of excessive force by his men by, instead, preaching reconciliation. He later apologized to the Brown family, a gesture seen as an admission of guilt, before tendering his resigning soon afterwards.
Last year, anti-police sentiment was stirred after white Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson shot unarmed black teenager Brown. Based on a probe by the U.S. Justice Department, Ferguson officials have racial bias towards the local population, majority of which are black Americans. However, Wilson was absolved in Brown’s shooting, the report relays.
In the Ferguson, Missouri case involving a white police officer (Darren Wilson) shooting an unarmed African American teenager (Michael Brown), the worldwide media immediately claimed that the officer shot Michael Brown for no reason besides the color of his skin. Many rumors and assumptions spread like wildfire after white police officer Darren Wilson was found innocent by a judge of having purpose to shoot Brown.
Please, don’t shoot! The tension in Ferguson is so high right now that you could cut it with a knife. This is due to the latest shooting of eighteen year old Michael Brown. On August 9, 2014 Brown was the victim of a fatal shooting by Darren Wilson, a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown and his friend Dorian Johnson were walking down the middle of the street, when Wilson drove up and told them to move to the sidewalk. An altercation occurred between Brown and Wilson struggling through the window of the police car until Wilson’s gun was fired. Brown and Johnson then fled in different directions with Wilson chasing Brown. Wilson then fired shots several more times. A total of twelve shots was fired. Brown was hit by six or seven bullets. The last shot that hit him was the most fatal. Witnesses of the scene had different stories about whether Brown had his hand raised above him or not before he was shot. This incident sparked unrest in Ferguson.
Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, was shot and killed on Aug. 9, 2014, by Darren Wilson, a white police officer, in Ferguson. “Three minutes - that is how long it took from the time Officer Darren Wilson confronted teenager Michael Brown at 12:01, and 12:04 when other officers arrived on the scene to find Brown dead. Those three minutes, and the fallout that followed, have been the source of protests, headlines and general unrest in the St Louis suburb of Ferguson, Missouri” (P 2). But what exactly happened in that time is still a source of confusion. Michael Brown and Dorian Johnson were leaving Ferguson Market and Liquor. Surveillance videos show Mr. Brown stealing some cigarillos. While they walk along West Florissant Avenue in
The shooting of the young teenager Michael Brown earlier this week was an event that should cause everyone to feel sadness and remorse for both him as well as his family and friends. Although the reports of the killing give varied stories of what actually happened, this entire situation has led many people to call both race and stereotyping into question. Police reports say that Brown was violent and shouted before running at the police officer in question, who then fired at least six shots at Brown. Other accounts as well as the official autopsy found that some of the shots had occurred while Brown had his back turned towards the officer.
Beginning in late summer, this country became bombarded with stories in the news about police officers involved in some types of controversy. The controversy that started it all was an incident that happened in Ferguson, Missouri. Since August, there has been much discussion and public debate over whether a police officer’s use of deadly force against an unarmed teenager was justified. On August 9, 2014 a young man named Michael Brown was shot and killed by Officer Darren Wilson after he was stopped for walking in the middle of the street. Was the shooting of an unarmed teenager in Missouri an example of police using excessive force? Who decides what force is recommended or when it becomes excessive? To determine both these questions, we first must define what constitutes specific circumstances as excessive force. Officer Darren Wilson was not guilty of using excessive or lethal force if he felt his safety or the safety of others were in danger or if Michael Brown had surrendered peacefully and without resisting arrest.
On August 4th, 2014, an eighteen year old boy by the name of Michael Brown was killed by Darren Wilson. Mr. Wilson was an officer of the Ferguson Police Department. He was a twenty-eight year old white male and was accused of killing Michael out of racial hatred. This case was examined but not enough evidence was accumulated to charge Mr. Wilson with the murder of Michael (Moylan). This act of violence touched many people’s hearts but made many people angry. It was thought that the FPD was being racist when Michael was killed because of statistic after the investigation. The arrest rate in seven felonies in the FDP decreased by over fifty percent and the police commissioner stated that overall crime decreased. (Newsday) After these statistics were reviewed, some thought it was time for repercussions. This in turn was the reason behind
Around 11:54 AM, Surveillance catches Mr. Brown stealing some cigarillos. Shortly after 12:00 PM, Officer Darren Wilson arrives, alone in his police vehicle. He starts speaking through his window and tells the two men, “Move to the sidewalk.” (Officer Wilson). He sees that Mr. Brown fits the description of a suspect in a convenience store theft. Somewhere in where Officer Wilson moves his vehicle out of traffic and to the side, he gets in an altercation with Mr. brown, who is right next to the window of the vehicle. Officer Wilson fires 2 shots from the inside of his vehicle. One barely hits Michael Brown on the thumb and the other completely missing him. “Mr. Brown runs east. Officer Wilson pursues him on foot. Mr. Brown stops and turns toward Officer Wilson, who also stops. Mr. Brown moves toward Officer Wilson, who fires several more shots. Mr. Brown is fatally wounded.” (Officer Wilson). After further investigations with this report, Officer Wilson said, “Mr. Brown reached into the vehicle and fought for my gun.” Some witnesses said Mr. Brown never moved toward Officer Wilson when he was shot and killed. Most of the witnesses said the shots were fired as he moved toward Officer
On August 9, 2014 18-year old Michael Brown was shot and killed by 28-year old Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in St. Louis. Darren Wilson was on route to a robbery at a convenience store and approached Michael Brown and his friend. There was a conflict between the two and the truth is not known after this. This event has many different speculations on what occurred that day. Some believe that the Police officer had a right to shoot and kill Brown but many believe that the shooting was unjustified and the police officer only killed him because of the color of his skin rather than what Brown was actually doing. Darren Wilson claims that Michael brown grabbed for the police officers
The shooting of African American teenager Michael Brown by white officer Darren Wilson has been a hot topic of debate. Those in support of Michael Brown believe that Darren Wilson racially profiled Brown and that the shooting would have never occurred had Brown been white. Those in support of Darren Wilson state that he acted in self-defense. This argument has more evidence supporting it than the argument that Brown was racially profiled.