Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson reportedly says he feared for his life before shooting

(Image credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

last updated 8 January 2015

Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, who fatally shot unarmed, black teenager Michael Brown in August, told investigators he was fearful for his life in the moments before he fired at Brown, The New York Times reports.

Officials who were briefed on the ongoing investigation say Wilson told investigators Brown physically assaulted him, punching and scratching the police officer during a scuffle that took place inside Wilson's police vehicle. The Times notes that Wilson's statements mark the first public ones he has made during the federal civil rights investigation of the case. However, the police officer's account does not explain why he shot Brown several times once Wilson exited his vehicle.

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Sarah Eberspacher is an associate editor at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked as a sports reporter at The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus and The Arizona Republic. She graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

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