The identity of a police officer involved in the fatal shooting of a Missouri teen won't be made public Tuesday, despite protesters' calls for his name to be released. Ferguson, Missouri, Police Chief Thomas Jackson initially told local NBC affiliate KSDK that his department would identify the officer who fired at Michael Brown, 18, in a mid-day Tuesday news conference. But a spokesman for the department said Tuesday morning it no longer planned to release the officer's name. Timothy Zoll said the delay was because of threats the officer received on social media. Chief Jackson told KSDK he won't release the name of the officer until he is directed to do so by a judge or official charges are filed.
Brown, who was unarmed, was walking down the street Saturday afternoon when the officer fired multiple shots, witnesses say. The killing has sparked riots and drawn comparisons to the shooting of Trayvon Martin, the Florida teen shot to death by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in a case that spurred a national debate on race relations.
IN-DEPTH
- Witness: Police Officer Told Michael Brown, 'I'm Gonna Shoot You'
- Shooting of Michael Brown Sparks Riots in Ferguson, Missouri
- Looting Erupts After Vigil for Missouri Teen Michael Brown
SOCIAL
— Elizabeth Chuck