A former Ferguson police officer who shot and killed Michael Brown nearly six years ago will not face charges.
St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell announced his decision Thursday, following a five-month review of the case.
鈥淎lthough this case represents one of the most significant moments in St. Louis鈥� history, the question for this office was a simple one 鈥� could we prove beyond a reasonable doubt that when Darren Wilson shot Michael Brown, he committed murder or manslaughter under Missouri law,鈥� Bell said. 鈥淎fter an independent, in-depth review of the evidence, we cannot prove that he did.鈥�
A grand jury in 2014 declined to charge Darren Wilson. A review by the U.S. Department of Justice also found that there was not enough evidence to take the case to trial and that Wilson did not violate Brown鈥檚 rights. But Bell said his decision does not exonerate Wilson.
鈥淭he question of whether we can prove a case at trial is different than clearing him of any and all wrongdoing,鈥� Bell said. "There鈥檚 so many points at which Darren Wilson could have handled the situation differently, and if he had, Michael Brown might still be alive.鈥�
Bell reopened the case at the request of Brown鈥檚 parents, Michael Brown Sr. and Lezley McSpadden.
鈥淚 know this is not the result they were looking for, and that their pain will continue forever,鈥� Bell said. 鈥淭his is a time for us to reflect on Michael鈥檚 life, to support Michael鈥檚 family and honor a transformative movement that will forever be linked to his name.鈥�
He said he had spoken to the family before his announcement, but he declined to discuss what they said. Bell added he did not speak with Wilson.
鈥淨uite frankly, there's no good time for this,鈥� Bell said. 鈥淚've made a point to meet with every single family victim with respect to homicides in any serious crimes. And it's never going to be a pleasant conversation, even if you are able to file charges. Because we can't bring their loved one back.鈥�
Also on Thursday, Bell announced a series of reforms his office had made, saying it is what the community and the family are owed. The changes include:
- Using an independent unit to investigate police use of force and potential wrongful convictions. That same unit last week filed attempted murder charges against two Velda City police officers.
- Providing support to families of those killed or injured by police. 鈥淭here will be times, like this one, where we cannot ethically prosecute a case given the state of the law or the facts, but that does not mean we cannot provide support for each family,鈥� Bell said.
- Recording the presentation of evidence to grand juries in all homicide cases, though the deliberations will remain secret. 鈥淒ue process shouldn鈥檛 just be for police officers and the politically connected; it should be for all citizens,鈥� Bell said. Such proceedings have been halted for months because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Activists disappointed
Bell鈥檚 decision did not go over well with activists who helped Bell oust longtime incumbent Bob McCulloch in 2018. McCulloch was the prosecutor who presented evidence to the grand jury in 2014.
鈥淢y heart is so heavy today knowing that the family of Mike Brown has to listen to another prosecutor tell them the man who killed their child won鈥檛 be indicted,鈥� Kayla Reed of Action St. Louis . 鈥淚 don鈥檛 have faith that the criminal legal system will ever give our families justice.鈥�
The Color of Change, which was heavily involved in the 2018 election, called Bell鈥檚 decision a 鈥渄isappointing blow.鈥�
鈥淭oday鈥檚 announcement by Attorney Bell to not pursue charges reinforces the importance of making the systemic changes necessary to end over-policing and the structural racism built to protect police officers from accountability. We stand in solidarity with the people of St. Louis in demanding the changes that will bring us closer to achieving real justice for our communities,鈥� said Scott Roberts, the group鈥檚 senior director of criminal justice campaigns.
After the press conference was over, Tory Russell, a key activist in the protests decrying Brown鈥檚 death, stood up and told Bell: 鈥淚t鈥檚 over. It鈥檚 your last term, bro.鈥�
鈥淲e knocked those doors for you,鈥� said Russell, alluding to how a number of activists involved in Ferguson protests campaigned for Bell in his 2018 race against McCulloch, adding, 鈥淭his is your first and last term.鈥�
Darryl Gray, the political adviser for the St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition, said he too was disappointed in the decision. But he added that he still supports Bell, adding that he 鈥渄id what we expected him to do, which is 鈥渢o reinvestigate this case.鈥�
鈥淚 am not pleased with the findings, but I understand the high bar,鈥� said Gray, who is a candidate for the state House. 鈥淚t's our job as a community to lobby and to advocate for legislation that would not allow police to be above the law.鈥�
Bell said when 鈥渨e start basing our decisions based on public backlash, we鈥檙e in it for the wrong reasons.鈥�
鈥淭his is about the family,鈥� Bell said. 鈥淥nce we concluded, we shared that information with the family. And that was at their request. But what I hope is that people who are watching this understand we put the time in. We did a thorough and detailed investigation. And we sat down with the family, looked them in the eyes, and gave them the findings.
鈥淎nd I think at this point, that鈥檚 all we can do.鈥�
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