FERGUSON, Mo. — Authorities on Tuesday delayed revealing the identity of the police officer who fatally shot an unarmed teen three days ago, citing threats against the officer on social media.
Police Chief Thomas Jackson had said he would reveal the officer’s name by noon Tuesday. Police department spokesman Timothy Zoll said because of the threats there is now no timetable for release of the name.
Witnesses say Michael Brown, 18, had raised his hands to surrender when the shots were fired. Police have not confirmed that information.
Monday night, officers in riot gear lobbed tear gas at crowds angered by the weekend shooting. There were 15 arrests but no reports of looting.
“This is a lot of young people reacting to getting shot at with tear gas, being met with riot gear,” said protester Shawn Jordan. “How else are these young kids going to react when they are being met with aggressiveness?”
Jackson said members of the crowd threw rocks at police and gunfire came from the crowd, so officers used tear gas and shot “beanbag rounds” meant to stun them. Jackson said police blocked off the area where most of the looting and vandalism occurred the previous night out of concern that cars passing by might hit demonstrators in the street.
At a community forum Monday, national NAACP President Cornell William Brooks demanded justice while condemning the violence and looting.
