Memorandum
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REPORT REGARDING THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE SHOOTING DEATH OF MICHAEL BROWN BY FERGUSON, MISSOURI POLICE OFFICER DARREN WILSON MARCH 4, 2015
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Table of Contents
I. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 4 II. Summary of the Evidence, Investigation, and Applicable Law .............................................. 5 A. Summary of the Evidence .................................................................................................... 5 B. Initial Law Enforcement Investigation ................................................................................ 8 C. Legal Summary .................................................................................................................... 9 1. The Law Governing Uses of Deadly Force by a Law Enforcement Officer ................ 9 i. The Shootings Were Not Objectively Unreasonable Uses of Force Under 18 U.S.C. § 242 ............................................................................................................... 10 ii.Wilson Did Not Willfully Violate Brown’s Constitutional Right to Be Free from Unreasonable Force ........................................................................................... 11 III. Summary of the Evidence .................................................................................................. 12 A. Darren Wilson’s Account .................................................................................................. 12 B. Physical and Forensic Evidence ......................................................................................... 16 1. Crime Scene ................................................................................................................ 16 2. Autopsy Findings ........................................................................................................ 17 3. DNA Analysis............................................................................................................. 20 4. Dispatch Recordings ................................................................................................... 21 5. Ballistics ..................................................................................................................... 23 i.Wilson’s Firearm and Projectiles Fired .................................................................... 23 ii.Projectile Recovered from SUV .............................................................................. 23 iii.Gunshot Residue on Brown’s Shirt ........................................................................ 23 6. Fingerprints ................................................................................................................. 24 7. Audio Recording of Shots Fired ................................................................................. 24 8. Wilson’s Medical Records.......................................................................................... 25 9. Brown’s Toxicology ................................................................................................... 25 10. Ferguson Market Surveillance Video ......................................................................... 25 C. Witness Accounts ............................................................................................................... 26 1. Witnesses Materially Consistent with Prior Statements, Physical Evidence, and Other Witnesses and Therefore, Give Credible Accounts ................................... 27
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i. Witnesses Materially Consistent with Prior Statements, Physical Evidence, and Other Witnesses Who Corroborate That Wilson Acted in Self-Defense ............. 27 ii. Witnesses Consistent with Prior Statements, Physical Evidence, and Other Witnesses Who Inculpate Wilson ............................................................................... 36 2. Witnesses Who Neither Inculpate Nor Fully Corroborate Wilson ............................. 36 3. Witnesses Whose Accounts Do Not Support a Prosecution Due to Materially Inconsistent Prior Statements, or Inconsistencies With the Physical and Forensic Evidence ....................................................................................................... 44 IV. Legal Analysis ................................................................................................................... 78 A. Legal Standard ................................................................................................................... 79 B. Uses of Force ..................................................................................................................... 79 1. Shooting at the SUV ................................................................................................... 80 2. Wilson’s Subsequent Pursuit of Brown and Shots Allegedly Fired as Brown was Moving Away .................................................................................................... 81 3. Shots Fired After Brown Turned to Face Wilson ...................................................... 82 C. Willfulness ......................................................................................................................... 85 VI. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 86