Benjamin Crump, one of the attorneys representing the family of Michael Brown, says that according to the pathologist, there was an additional bullet entry wound in Brown's chest. VPC
A lawyer for the family of Ferguson shooting victim Michael Brown said Thursday that the grand jury decision in the case will be a "defining moment in the history of Missouri," whether or not the officer who shot Brown is indicted.
Benjamin Crump, speaking at a press conference, asked for calm when the grand jury decision is announced — calm from protesters and police. Brown, 18, was shot and killed on a street in the St. Louis suburb by Officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9, setting off months of sometimes violent protests.
Crump and his associate, lawyer Anthony Gray, supported Gov. Jay Nixon's plea for peace when the decision is announced. But both also said that police should be cautioned not to overreact. Authorities have drawn criticism for their tactics, including the use of armored vehicles, to contain protests.
"We realize that some people are anxious and angry," Gray said. "However violence, rioting and looting is not a responsible way of expressing those feelings."
Gray also stressed that police officers "need to use reasonable force (in dealing with) innocent men, women and children simply exercising their constitutional rights."
The lawyers spoke at the St. Louis County Justice Center, where the grand jury was hearing from a pathologist hired by the Brown family to perform a private autopsy on the teen's body. Crump discussed few details of what Michael Baden might add to the case except to say that Baden had found an additional bullet entry wound in Brown's chest.
Crump suggested that Baden's appearance before the grand jury, which began hearing testimony Aug. 20, could mean a decision will come soon.
Brown was black; Wilson is white. Ferguson is a predominately black city of 20,000 people with a police force that is overwhelmingly white. Gov. Jay Nixon, police, city officials and protesters all have announced preparations this week for any potential unrest, whether in celebration or anger, after the grand jury reveals its decision.
Brown's parents have made it clear they want the grand jury to indict Wilson, 28.
"We are praying for an indictment. To me that would mean that (police) did do their investigation fairly and it was unbiased," Brown's mother, Lesley McSpadden, said Wednesday.
Witnesses and police gave conflicting accounts of the teen's death. Police say Brown reached into Wilson's police car, a struggle ensued and Brown reached for Wilson's weapon. Brown's family and some witnesses say Wilson killed Brown as he raised his hands in surrender.
Attorney General Eric Holder spoke Wednesday with federal, state and local elected officials from Missouri about their response plans to the ongoing demonstrations in Ferguson, Justice Department spokesman Brian Fallon said.
Holder told the officials police should seek "to de-escalate tensions and respect the rights of protesters," while clearly communicating "that any acts of violence by the demonstrators, or other attempts to provoke law enforcement, are unacceptable."
The Justice Department is investigating Brown's shooting and the Ferguson police department. Holder told the officials he could not say when those investigations would end, Fallon said.
Eric Davis, McSpadden's cousin, said this week the family plans to be in a safe place away from any violence that might happen once the grand jury's decision is announced.
"We have prayed for relief from the stress and anxiety of everything, just asking God to make sure that justice is being delivered for Michael," Davis said. "We believe justice will be served."
Join the Conversation
To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs