18 and Dead.

[Tom Joad]

The video, recorded several minutes after the shooting, gives new insight into the case, which has spurred a Justice Department investigation, national debate and protests over authorities' handling of the case.

The construction workers said they don't live in Ferguson and don't know the Brown family, but their account squares with accounts from several other witnesses of the unarmed African-American teen's shooting death on August 9.

Some witnesses say the teenager assaulted the white officer at the outset and tried to grab his gun; other witnesses say Wilson was the aggressor.

A private autopsy conducted for the Brown family showed that Brown had been shot at least six times, including twice in the head.

A grand jury is hearing the case and will determine whether Wilson will face any charges.

Protesters near Interstate 70 and outside the police headquarters on Wednesday, pushing for Gov. Jay Nixon to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Brown's death.

Analysts debate video's impact

CNN Senior Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin says the video could play an important role in the case.

"You have practically in real time someone discussing what they saw, and that's just good evidence," he said on CNN's "AC360."

Sunny Hostin, a CNN legal analyst and former federal prosecutor, says it's important to note that several witnesses are telling the same story.

"They're saying that he was running from the police officer and that his hands were up," she said. "I don't know what other witness testimony at this point or account we have to hear. The bottom line is having your hands up is the universal sign for surrender."

Neil Bruntrager, general counsel for the St. Louis Police Officers Association, cautioned against rushing to judgment. Witness accounts are important, he said, but need to be evaluated with all the evidence.

"I'm not saying disregard them. I'm saying that we will judge their credibility by all of the evidence, not by one statement, and certainly not by a 15-second video clip," he said.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/10/us/fer...Top+Stories%29

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by BeamOn

Wonder why it took over a month for it to surface. If true, very serious indeed.

I don't know.

The video is obviously being taken by a third person. Maybe that had something to do with it.

I wonder if and when the Grand Jury will have this evidence.

[icenine]

There is concern that McColluch is not letting all the witnesses into the grand jury.

[merrylander]

Did not the angle of the head wounds indicate that he was on his knees? Surely that LEO was not tall enough to have inflicted them when the lad was standing.

[donquixote99]

It's not clear, but it sounds like the thirty second pause would be between the initial shot, fired while Wilson was in his car, and subsequent shots after Wilson came out and pursued Brown.

The whole thing hinges on whether it was indeed legal for Wilson to try to shoot Brown while he was running away, seems to me.

[Wasillaguy]

Originally Posted by merrylander

Did not the angle of the head wounds indicate that he was on his knees? Surely that LEO was not tall enough to have inflicted them when the lad was standing.

Yep, and the one in the top of the head was supposedly the last shot fired as it was lethal. Put that together with the audio recording showing that the last volley of shots were in quick succession, and it's reasonable to assume he was crumpling to the ground as these shots were fired.
He fell forward, facing the officer. Whether he was advancing at the time, and whether his hands were in the air, are the big questions.

On the protest front, they tried and failed to shut down the highway yesterday. Cousin sent me a pic of her husband working the scene. I asked why he didn't have his Smokey Bear hat on. She said they are not allowed to wear them during Ferguson related events, as they've been deemed too intimidating.

Yep, a Smokey Bear hat is intimidating, but the masks and bandanas over their face the local gangbangers parade around in is inert.

[donquixote99]

Originally Posted by merrylander

Did not the angle of the head wounds indicate that he was on his knees? Surely that LEO was not tall enough to have inflicted them when the lad was standing.

There is one witness that describes a wounded Brown staggering toward the officer. He might not have stayed upright, but have been bent over, presenting the top of his head to the officer.

It's awful, but, considered in isolation, probably legal for Wilson to shoot down the wounded Brown, if Brown is advancing on him. Wilson cannot be expected to assess Brown's medical condition, or to assume he's so badly wounded that he poses no threat, if he is advancing.

But the last shot must not be considered in isolation, but in the context of the whole sequence of events. Wilson reportedly was shooting at Brown while Brown was running away with his back to Wilson. It's hard to claim the unarmed Brown posed a great enough threat while running away that he needed to be shot. And if those shots were not justified, then Brown was a victim at that point of excessive force. Wilson may not have had the right to treat Brown as a 'threat to be neutralized,' if the 'threat' was created by his unlawful act of shooting at the fleeing Brown.

Although it seems that Wilson only managed to graze Brown, at most, during that part of the engagement. The lesson seems to be that if someone shoots at you when you're running away, keep running. Don't try to stop and surrender.

[Wasillaguy]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

The lesson seems to be that if someone shoots at you when you're running away, keep running. Don't try to stop and surrender.

Especially if you've already punched the guy in the face and tried to take his gun.

[icenine]

Originally Posted by Wasillaguy

Especially if you've already punched the guy in the face and tried to take his gun.

Has Wilson ever said this? I am just curious.

[donquixote99]

Originally Posted by Wasillaguy

Especially if you've already punched the guy in the face and tried to take his gun.

No, I'd say anytime.

Besides, there's no public evidence that the events you mention actually happened. Maybe, maybe not. There are other possibilities.

Do you think Wilson shot at Brown while Brown was running away, as several witnesses have stated?