Michael Brown had marijuana in his system and was shot at close range in the hand, backing up claims by a police officer that that there was a violent struggle between the Ferguson, Mo. teen and the cop, an independent medical examiner told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The report supports the account given by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, who shot and killed Brown on Aug. 9. Witnesses claimed the teen was surrendering when the cop fired. Police maintained Wilson only used his gun after Brown tried to take it - a life-and-death fight inside a police SUV.
St. Louis medical examiner Dr. Michael Graham, not part of the official investigation, reviewed the autopsy report on Tuesday and told the Post-Dispatch its finding 'does support that there was a significant altercation at the car.'
A forensic pathologist in San Francisco, Dr. Judy Melinek, said the autopsy 'supports the fact that this guy is reaching for the gun, if he has gunpowder particulate material in the wound.'
The Post-Dispatch said that Brown's blood was found on Wilson's gun.
Melinek also said Brown was facing the officer, not running away, when he was shot two in the head, twice more in the chest and once in the upper right arm, according to the Post-Dispatch.
A St. Louis County grand jury will decide if Wilson will be charged in the shooting.
The shooting stirred three months of unrest in the St. Louis area and gave rise to a popular chant among protesters: 'Hands up, don't shoot.'
Turns out, that may not be true at all.
jmolinet@nydailynews.com Follow on Twitter @jmolinet
Posted by Unknown on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
0 comments "Michael Brown autopsy, officer's account indicate teen went for Ferguson cop's ..."
Post a Comment