Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said his office was unaware that a surveillance video allegedly showing Michael Brown stealing cigars before being shot and killed by a police officer would be released by local police — and he "deeply" disagreed with the decision to make the video public.
The release of the footage purportedly showing Michael Brown getting into a confrontation inside a convenience store "put the community, and quite frankly, the nation on alert again," Nixon said on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday.
Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson released the video Friday, sparking renewed outrage after a relatively calm Thursday night in Ferguson. Brown's family said police committed "character assassination" of the slain teen, and Jackson later said that the officer who shot and killed Brown did so without knowing he was a suspect in the taped robbery. Rioting and looting broke out overnight Friday as an apparent response to the video release, prompting Nixon to declare a state of emergency and issue a midnight curfew for Ferguson. Nixon said he thought the curfew "made a difference" on Saturday night, although police arrested seven people and used tear gas. A police car was fired on and one person was shot and is in critical condition, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson.
IN-DEPTH
- Feds Urged Police Not to Release Michael Brown 'Robbery' Video
- Seven Arrested in Overnight Clashes
- Chief Defends Release of Robbery Surveillance Video