Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson. (Getty/Facebook)
The panel’s ruling will be revealed at a press conference at the courthouse in Clayton tonight, multiple media outlets report.
Anxiety over the decision has
the St. Louis region on edge, as the public waits to see whether the
fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager by a white police officer
will result in an indictment.
The grand jury convened Aug. 20
to hear evidence and testimony. The 12-member group was asked to decide
if there was probable cause to charge Wilson with a crime and what that
charge should be. Options range from second-degree involuntary
manslaughter to second-degree murder. Wilson, 28, could face life in
prison if convicted of the most serious charge.
Photos surround Michael Brown's casket before the start of his funeral at Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church …
Many, including Wilson, have
recently expressed that the grand jury will not hand down an indictment.
On Thursday, Jeff Roorda, representative with the St. Louis Police
Officers' Association, described Wilson as being under a lot of pressure
and stress but confident in the outcome of the grand jury
investigation.
“It's fair to say that neither he nor his defense team expect an indictment,” Roorda told the AP, offering his impression of the situation based his meeting with Wilson.
The Aug. 9 shooting led to weeks
of protests and saw citizens and heavily armed police clash. Stores in
Ferguson were looted and property was destroyed. Hundreds were arrested.
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