Autopsy Shows Michael Brown Had a Close Range Wound, But Still No Justification on His Murder

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Michael Brown’s official autopsy shows the teenager had a close range wound. In the report, it shows the 18-year-old was shot in the hand at close range during a struggle with Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, two experts said in a published article.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch obtained the St. Louis County medical examiner’s autopsy. Though irrelevant, the report also showed traces of marijuana in Brown’s system.

The newspaper reported that St. Louis medical examiner Dr. Michael Graham and another pathologist not involved in the investigation reviewed the report and said it indicates a wound to Brown’s hand came at close range.

Does this new evidence prove that Michael Brown’s murder was justified?

It is factual that Michael Brown and officer Darren Wilson got into an altercation inside Wilson’s sports utility vehicle on Aug. 9. Brown was shot once in the hand during that altercation.  However, Brown was killed outside the vehicle.

Graham told the Post-Dispatch that the autopsy report “does support that there was a significant altercation at the car.”

But several witnesses claim Brown had surrendered to officer Wilson with his hands up before he was shot and killed.

So the question remains, what events occurred outside of Wilson’s vehicle that led to Brown being fatally shot?

Brown’s family attorney Benjamin Crump told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the autopsy offers no insight into why Wilson killed Brown.

A bullet at close range most certainly would explain an altercation, whatever those circumstances that happened during that altercation still remain unclear.  The shots fired outside the vehicle have yet to be explained. And a close range wound in Brown’s hand certainly does not explain his killing.

Wilson was placed on administrative paid leave after the shooting of Michael Brown pending the outcome of the investigation.

The shooting death of Brown led to protests citing officer Darren Wilson used excessive force.  Brown’s death also opened up the conversation again on race relations in America when it pertains to black men.

No matter the outcome of this investigation, the conversation must continue on how we can do better as Americans.