Michael Brown's mom speaks out on new autopsy

MSNBC - Justice is the only solution to restore peace in Ferguson, Mo., said the mother of unarmed teen Michael Brown.

Aug 18, 2014

MSNBC — Justice is the only solution to restore peace in Ferguson, Mo., said the mother of unarmed teen Michael Brown.

Justice is “being fair, arresting this man and making him accountable for his actions,” Leslie Brown said Monday on ABC News’ “Good Morning America,” about the veteran police officer who fatally shot her 18-year-old son earlier this month.

Over the weekend, the public learned that officer Darren Wilson shot Brown at least six times on August 9. The Justice Department ordered its own autopsy, in addition to two other tests performed by local authorities.

The preliminary autopsy report, which The New York Times reviewed, found that one of the bullets had entered the top of Brown’s skull, suggesting his head was bent forward when he was struck by the fatal shot. In addition to the two shots to his head, including one through the eye, Brown was struck four times in his right arm. All the shots entered the front of the teenager’s body, the autopsy found, which contradicts some witness accounts that suggested Brown had been shot from behind while fleeing police. However, the wounds may be consistent with witness claims that Brown had his hands up when he was fired on.

“It’s been very, very troubling,” Brown’s mother said during the interview. “It confirms our worst fears that the witnesses were telling the truth — that our son was shot many times. What is worst is the head shot.”

Benjamin Crump, the attorney representing the Brown family, sees the results as a validation of eyewitness claims. “This autopsy … seems to confirm our worst fears, that the witnesses were telling the truth,” he told MSNBC.

There was reportedly no gunpowder on his body, which suggests that bullets weren’t fired at close range. But Dr. Michael Baden, who performed the test, didn’t have access to Brown’s clothes, which may have contained some gunpowder residue.

Gov. Jay Nixon ordered the Missouri National Guard to Ferguson early Monday, after a weekend of violence erupted in the wake of Brown’s shooting death. The governor signed the executive order following attacks on civilians and law enforcement that began on Saturday. He aimed to restore peace and order to the St. Louis suburb.

“A day of hope, prayers, and peaceful protests was marred by the violent criminal acts of an organized and growing number of individuals, many from outside the community and state, whose actions are putting the residents and businesses of Ferguson at risk. I join the people of Ferguson, and all Missourians, in strongly condemning this criminal activity that included firing upon law enforcement officers, shooting a civilian, throwing Molotov cocktails, looting, and a coordinated attempt to block roads and overrun the Unified Command Center,” Nixon wrote.

Residents first took to the streets peacefully on Sunday evening to seek justice for Brown and his family. But heavily-armed law enforcement officials met the protesters as they marched toward a police command center, firing on the crowd with tear gas and rubber bullets. At least two individuals were injured during the shootings, but no police officers were hurt, said Capt. Ron Johnson, leader of the Missouri Highway Patrol that was put in charge of security by Nixon last week to help restore peace in the predominantly African-American suburb.

Nixon declared a state of emergency over the weekend, which prompted police to implement a midnight curfew. The Brown family has called for peaceful protesting in bringing justice for their son. The increasing number of people charged with stirring the violence are from outside the community and state, Nixon said. Last week, Ferguson residents, local leaders, and civil rights icons united in a rally in support of Brown’s relatives.

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