Black Teens Shooting Prompts Federal Inquiry The Justice Department has stepped in to investigate the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager by police in a Missouri town. Michael Brown, 18, was shot multiple times in the predominantly African-American St Louis suburb of Ferguson on Saturday. US Attorney General Eric Holder said the federal inquiry would work in tandem with the FBI investigation. The law enforcement bureau earlier said it was opening an inquiry into possible civil rights violations arising from the death, an announcement local police said they welcomed. Mr Holder said the federal inquiry would not supplant what he expected to be a thorough, fair investigation by local authorities. Aggressively pursuing investigations such as this is critical for preserving trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve, said the Attorney General. Fergusons mayor, meanwhile, called for calm after a night of violence that left two officers injured and 32 people arrested. The only thing I can tell my community now is to remain calm, said James Knowles. I understand the rage and anger of people, but this is not constructive. He spoke as about 150 protesters peacefully rallied - with riot police standing by - to call for the officer who shot Mr Brown to be fired. Coverage of Mr Browns death has meanwhile spawned a viral hashtag #IfTheyGunnedMeDown, over alleged media racial bias. Looting and rioting erupted on Sunday in the town during a candlelit vigil. Police cars were vandalised, and several businesses along a main road near the shooting scene were broken into, including a liquor store, a convenience store and a car-parts shop. One officer told CBS News that a police helicopter had been shot at at least once during the disorder. Police have said Saturdays fatal shooting occurred after an officer encountered two people - one of whom was Mr Brown - on the street near an apartment complex. One of the men pushed the officer back into his squad car and a struggle began, according to police. At least one shot was fired from the officers gun inside the police car. It was not clear if Mr Brown was the man who struggled with the officer. The struggle spilled out into the street, where Mr Brown was shot. One witness said the teenager was unarmed with his hands in the air at the time he was shot. Mr Browns mother, Lesley McSpadden, spoke emotionally about her sons death. You took my son away from me! she said. You know how hard it was for me to get him to stay in school and graduate? You know how many black men graduate? Not many. The Brown family have reportedly taken on lawyer Benjamin Crump, who also represented the family of Trayvon Martin. The unarmed black 17-year-old was shot dead in 2012 by neighbourhood watchman George Zimmerman, who was later acquitted of murder charges.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 21:48:34 +0000
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