‘My conscience is clean’: Ferguson policeman who shot unarmed teen says he would do it again
PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 26 November, 2014, 9:49am
UPDATED : Wednesday, 26 November, 2014, 10:13am
News
26 Nov 2014
Angry nightly standoff in Mong Kok amid Occupy clearance attempts
News
18 Nov 2014
The Dutch motorcycle gangs fighting Islamic State
News
22 Nov 2014
Japanese military hit by a fall in recruitment of more than 10 per…
News
20 Nov 2014
Joshua Wong says Occupy protests should not end yet despite mass…
Comment
22 Nov 2014
Naive students are pursuing unrealistic political objectives
Business
24 Nov 2014
Hong Kong tycoon Tony Fung’s Australia casino plans thrown into doubt
Business
19 Nov 2014
Hong Kong in with a shot at Xiaomi IPO
Comment
12 Nov 2014
Letters to the Editor, November 12, 2014
Business
24 Nov 2014
Asset managers increasingly turn to sustainable investment strategies
Business
11 Nov 2014
The plot thickens in oil price plunge theories
Comment
08 Nov 2014
Former Canto-pop star sings old tune on Hong Kong police and Occupy…
Comment
24 Nov 2014
For those who dare, Hong Kong remains the place to be
Lifestyle
30 Oct 2014
Martial arts fitness craze gives Muay Thai a leg up in Hong Kong
Videos
09 Nov 2014
Hong Kong farmers join Occupy movement to protest against tycoon land…
Lifestyle
09 Nov 2014
Why snakes grow two penises, but men only one: research breakthrough
Darren Wilson said he feared for his life before opening fire, killing 18-year-old Michael Brown. Photo: Reuters
The
white police officer who shot dead an unarmed black teenager in the
riot-hit US town of Ferguson said on Tuesday he has a “clean conscience”
and would do the same thing again.
Darren Wilson said he feared for his life before he drew his gun – the first time he had used his firearm on the job – before opening fire, killing 18-year-old Michael Brown.
“The reason I have a clean conscience is because I know I did my job right,” Wilson told ABC News, speaking publicly for the first time since the August 9 shooting.
“I don’t think it’s haunting. It’s always going to be something that happened.”
When asked if it would have ended the same way if Brown was white, Wilson answered: “Yes ... no question.”
He described Brown as a “powerful man,” comparing him to professional wrestler Hulk Hogan.
Watch: Riots across US after jury decides not to charge policeman who shot black teen
“He charged me, he was going to kill me,” he said.
Wilson said he feared Brown would get hold of his gun and said he acted out of self-defence.
“I gave myself another mental check. Can I shoot this guy? Legally, can I? And the question that I answered to myself was, ‘I have to.’”
Brown’s family and supporters have maintained that the unarmed teenager was the victim of an officer who aggressively confronted their son and then shot him while his hands were raised in a sign of surrender.
Events began to unfold, Wilson told the grand jury, when he stopped Brown about halfway into a 12-hour shift, which began at 6.30am, and observed he was holding cigarillos that had just been reported stolen from a nearby store.
The first thing he noticed about Brown was how big he was, walking in the middle of a road with a smaller friend, Dorian Johnson, according to testimony released on Monday.
Wilson, who has been on paid administrative leave since the shootings, did not learn their names until the next day, according to testimony, in which he described the neighbourhood as being “anti-police” and acknowledged being on high alert.
Initially, he said, he tried to talk to Brown from inside his police vehicle, but the teen cursed at Wilson and then lunged at him.
Brown landed two punches to his face, Wilson testified, adding that he feared a third could have been deadly.
With no taser in his car, Wilson considered using mace or a torch in defence, but the five-year police veteran said he felt neither would be effective.
He drew his gun, which Brown had grabbed and twisted until it dug into Wilson’s hip, Wilson testified.
![]( "Ritoing broke out in Ferguson following the grand jury's decision. Photo: EPA")
“I said: ‘Get back or I’m going to shoot you,’” Wilson recalled saying.
“He immediately grabs my gun and says: ‘You are too much of a pussy to shoot me”“
Wilson said he fired a shot from inside the vehicle, shattering the window. It was the first time he had fired his weapon at someone on duty, he said.
According to Wilson’s testimony, Brown stepped back, then lunged again. Wilson fired again and Brown began to run. Wilson exited the car and chased him.
Across the street, Brown stopped and turned to face Wilson.
Wilson said he told Brown to get on the ground. Brown did not. Backing up rapidly, Wilson fired multiple rounds of shots.
“I know if he reaches me, he kills me,” Wilson testified.
Wilson said he did not know how many bullets struck Brown, who was shot six or seven times.
![]( "Demonstrators took to the streets of Washington and other US cities following the verdict. Photo: AFP")
Brown fell face forward, and Wilson said he knew he was dead.
Later, when police backup arrived at the shooting scene, a sergeant asked Wilson what had happened. “I said, I had to kill him,” according to his testimony.
Wilson said he and his new wife are now hoping to resume their routine: “We just want to have a normal life. That’s it.”
The incident has sparked angry protests across the United States.
Several cities were bracing for more demonstrations on Tuesday night, including the St Louis suburb of Ferguson, where 2,200 National Guard soldiers were on standby.
On Monday, the grand jury decided not to indict Wilson, sparking a night of rioting in Ferguson, a mainly black town of 21,000 with a mostly white police force.
The shooting has sparked a nationwide debate about military-style police tactics and race relations in the United States.
Civil rights firebrand Al Sharpton said the Brown case renewed a fight for greater police accountability, and said protests would be staged nationwide on Saturday.
Additional reporting by Reuters
Darren Wilson said he feared for his life before he drew his gun – the first time he had used his firearm on the job – before opening fire, killing 18-year-old Michael Brown.
“The reason I have a clean conscience is because I know I did my job right,” Wilson told ABC News, speaking publicly for the first time since the August 9 shooting.
“I don’t think it’s haunting. It’s always going to be something that happened.”
When asked if it would have ended the same way if Brown was white, Wilson answered: “Yes ... no question.”
He described Brown as a “powerful man,” comparing him to professional wrestler Hulk Hogan.
Watch: Riots across US after jury decides not to charge policeman who shot black teen
“He charged me, he was going to kill me,” he said.
Wilson said he feared Brown would get hold of his gun and said he acted out of self-defence.
“I gave myself another mental check. Can I shoot this guy? Legally, can I? And the question that I answered to myself was, ‘I have to.’”
Brown’s family and supporters have maintained that the unarmed teenager was the victim of an officer who aggressively confronted their son and then shot him while his hands were raised in a sign of surrender.
Events began to unfold, Wilson told the grand jury, when he stopped Brown about halfway into a 12-hour shift, which began at 6.30am, and observed he was holding cigarillos that had just been reported stolen from a nearby store.
The first thing he noticed about Brown was how big he was, walking in the middle of a road with a smaller friend, Dorian Johnson, according to testimony released on Monday.
Wilson, who has been on paid administrative leave since the shootings, did not learn their names until the next day, according to testimony, in which he described the neighbourhood as being “anti-police” and acknowledged being on high alert.
Initially, he said, he tried to talk to Brown from inside his police vehicle, but the teen cursed at Wilson and then lunged at him.
Brown landed two punches to his face, Wilson testified, adding that he feared a third could have been deadly.
With no taser in his car, Wilson considered using mace or a torch in defence, but the five-year police veteran said he felt neither would be effective.
He drew his gun, which Brown had grabbed and twisted until it dug into Wilson’s hip, Wilson testified.
“I said: ‘Get back or I’m going to shoot you,’” Wilson recalled saying.
“He immediately grabs my gun and says: ‘You are too much of a pussy to shoot me”“
Wilson said he fired a shot from inside the vehicle, shattering the window. It was the first time he had fired his weapon at someone on duty, he said.
According to Wilson’s testimony, Brown stepped back, then lunged again. Wilson fired again and Brown began to run. Wilson exited the car and chased him.
Across the street, Brown stopped and turned to face Wilson.
Wilson said he told Brown to get on the ground. Brown did not. Backing up rapidly, Wilson fired multiple rounds of shots.
“I know if he reaches me, he kills me,” Wilson testified.
Wilson said he did not know how many bullets struck Brown, who was shot six or seven times.
Brown fell face forward, and Wilson said he knew he was dead.
Later, when police backup arrived at the shooting scene, a sergeant asked Wilson what had happened. “I said, I had to kill him,” according to his testimony.
Wilson said he and his new wife are now hoping to resume their routine: “We just want to have a normal life. That’s it.”
The incident has sparked angry protests across the United States.
Several cities were bracing for more demonstrations on Tuesday night, including the St Louis suburb of Ferguson, where 2,200 National Guard soldiers were on standby.
On Monday, the grand jury decided not to indict Wilson, sparking a night of rioting in Ferguson, a mainly black town of 21,000 with a mostly white police force.
The shooting has sparked a nationwide debate about military-style police tactics and race relations in the United States.
Civil rights firebrand Al Sharpton said the Brown case renewed a fight for greater police accountability, and said protests would be staged nationwide on Saturday.
Additional reporting by Reuters
For unlimited access to:
SCMP.com SCMP Tablet Edition SCMP Mobile Edition 10-year news archive
Existing subscribers, login here
From SCMP (Last 24hrs)
Multimedia
Videos
24 Nov 2014
Debate over abortion rights rekindled in Chile after rape case
World
Videos
19 Nov 2014
Farewell to 'Apec blue' as smog returns to Beijing following summit
China
Videos
07 Nov 2014
The most notorious black market in Hong Kong doesn't involve drugs…
Hong Kong
Videos
21 Nov 2014
Beaujolais Nouveau wine hits the market, Beaujeu, France celebrates
World
Videos
17 Nov 2014
Murder for 'honour': the bloody tide sweeping Pakistan
Asia
From Around The Web
RantPolitical
19 Sep 2014
16 Most Insane Military Weapons Ever Created
Nikkei Asian Review
12 Nov 2014
China unveils new stealth fighter at air show
The Root
25 Nov 2014
Michael Brown Family Lawyer Calls Verdict Unfair and…
AARP
02 Oct 2014
22 Things You Should Never Do Again After 50
CBS News
17 Oct 2014
Man eaten by bear after suffering heart attack
Marcus T Anthony Nov 26th 2014
10:11am
10:11am
Well at least you get both sides of the story here (which is more than you will ever get in some places).
It's a tough call for the jury. They have to abide by the evidence, not what the mobs of angry people outside the courtyard want to hear. That is the nature of the system.
I'm not sure what concerns me more. The possible racism of the police in Ferguson, or the clear racist hatred that dominates the scmp comments sections even as those same people scream racism.
I'm sure this idea must have been touted, but maybe they should just use all black police officers in such places. That way the race card cannot be pulled out every time there is a tragedy like this.
It's a tough call for the jury. They have to abide by the evidence, not what the mobs of angry people outside the courtyard want to hear. That is the nature of the system.
I'm not sure what concerns me more. The possible racism of the police in Ferguson, or the clear racist hatred that dominates the scmp comments sections even as those same people scream racism.
I'm sure this idea must have been touted, but maybe they should just use all black police officers in such places. That way the race card cannot be pulled out every time there is a tragedy like this.
