Darren Wilson Told Investigators He Feared For His Life During Shooting
In new details revealed in a report by the New York Times, it was shared that Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson told investigators that he feared for his life during the shooting of Michael Brown, who was unarmed when the officer killed him in August.
The report says that Wilson told investigators that he was pinned inside his vehicle in a struggle between Brown and himself over the officer's gun. According to a forensic test, Brown's blood was on the gun, on the interior of the car, and on Darren Wilson's uniform.
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.
Wilson was not required by law to testify before a St. Louis County Jury, but experts believe that information from what happened on the inside of the officer's vehicle could be influential in determining the case.
The officials said that while the federal investigation was continuing, the evidence so far did not support civil rights charges against Officer Wilson. To press charges, the Justice Department would need to clear a high bar, proving that Officer Wilson willfully violated Mr. Brown's civil rights when he shot him.
The account of Officer Wilson's version of events did not come from the Ferguson Police Department or from officials whose activities are being investigated as part of the civil rights inquiry.
This information was shared with the New York Times by unnamed government officials close to the case. Many believe the St. Louis County grand jury is not intending on convicting Officer Wilson. Dorian Johnson, the friend who Michael Brown had been with when he was shot says that Brown did not reach for Wilson's gun.
A decision is expected to be made by mid-November.
[Image via AP]
