Darren Wilson not indicted in killing of Michael Brown

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last updated 8 January 2015

A grand jury has decided not to bring charges against Darren Wilson, the white police officer who in August shot and killed an unarmed black teenager, Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Missouri.

The officer argued that he shot Brown in self-defense, though witnesses disputed that version of events, with some saying Brown had his hands in the air when he was gunned down.

Brown's death sparked weeks of protests in Ferguson and prompted national discussions about race and the militarization of local police departments. In the weeks leading up to the grand jury's announcement, protesters who assumed there would be no indictment planned widespread demonstrations. Fearing that protests could turn violent, Gov. Jay Nixon (D) last week preemptively declared a state of emergency.