After reviewing the case for potential civil rights violations, the Justice Department is recommending that no federal charges be brought against Darren Wilson for the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. The New York Times reports that an FBI investigation into the case found evidence to support Wilson's claim that Brown may have tried to grab his gun during the struggle.
The news comes two months after a Missouri grand jury declined to indict Wilson for the shooting and killing of the unarmed 18-year-old on August 9, which prompted protests across the country. Outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder, Jr. has pledged to release a full report — and the final decision on whether to close the case against Wilson — sometime before he leaves office. Holder announced his decision to step down in September, and will do so once the Obama administration finds a replacement.
The Ferguson Police Department is also the subject of a federal investigation into civil rights violations, including excessive force. That investigation could help create safeguards to better serve the city's Black community. It could also be the final opportunity for the Brown family to get any semblance of closure. In the meantime, they're undoubtedly grappling with yet another heartbreaking setback.
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