Ferguson Grand Jury Decision Unlikely Before Monday | WPN World People News

A grand jury decision is not expected until at least Monday in the case of the killing of an unarmed African-American teenager by a white police officer in the central U.S. city of Ferguson, Missouri.

Though a decision and announcement had been widely expected by Sunday, various media are reporting that "sources" have told them the grand jury will not reconvene until Monday, leaving an announcement unlikely before then.

Ferguson is a suburb of St. Louis, where the business group Downtown STL Inc. operates. The Associated Press reported the organization emailed members Saturday that the grand jury would reconvene Monday. The business organization didn’t disclose its source of information, either in the email or when a spokeswoman was contacted, the AP said.

The news agency said the St. Louis County prosecutor’s office did not respond to several messages it sent Saturday.

Ben Crump, attorney for the family of shooting victim Michael Brown, also said prosecutors had said they’d notify him when the grand jury reached a decision, the AP said. He hadn’t been contacted as of Saturday.

The grand jury has been meeting in Clayton, the St. Louis County seat of government. .

Crowd control planned

Barricades were put in place Saturday around the county justice center and police headquarters to prepare for possible violence following an announcement.

The grand jury has been in session since the end of August, considering whether to indict or exonerate Officer Darren Wilson in the August 9 fatal shooting of Brown. .

The grand jury reportedly still is gathering information about the case, in which stories differ as to what happened. Lawyers for Brown's family say he was trying to surrender when the officer shot him. Wilson's supporters say he shot Brown in self-defense.

'Rules of engagement'

The deadly shooting incident sparked weeks of sometimes violent protests in the St. Louis suburb and has become a flashpoint for U.S. race relations.

Law enforcement officials in Ferguson have agreed on "rules of engagement" with some organized activist groups, hoping to ensure any demonstrations are peaceful when the grand jury decision is issued.

Protest groups from around the country are planning to descend on Ferguson in large numbers if the grand jury exonerates Wilson. Local police have drawn up contingency plans in case the demonstrations turn violent.

The father of the slain teenager appealed for calm Friday. In a video posted online, the elder Michael Brown said hurting others or destroying property is "not the answer" to frustration over what is seen as racial injustice.

Source: Voice of America