Brown was accompanied by his year-old male friend Dorian Johnson. The struggle continued until the pistol fired. Wilson stated that Brown stopped and charged him after a short pursuit. Johnson contradicted this account, stating that Brown turned around with his hands raised after Wilson shot at his back. According to Johnson, Wilson then shot Brown multiple times until Brown fell to the ground.
In the entire altercation, Wilson fired a total of twelve bullets, including twice during the struggle in the car.
This event ignited unrest in Ferguson. Witnesses to the shooting claimed Brown had his hands up in surrender or said "don't shoot", so protesters later used the slogan " Hands up, don't shoot ". The response of area police agencies in dealing with the protests was strongly criticized by both the media and politicians. Concerns were raised over insensitivity, tactics, and a militarized response.
A grand jury was called and given evidence from Robert McCulloch , the St. Louis County Prosecutor. On November 24 , , McCulloch announced the St. Louis County grand jury had decided not to indict Wilson. Department of Justice reported the conclusion of its own investigation and cleared Wilson of civil rights violations in the shooting. It claimed that Wilson's account was "corroborated by bruising on Wilson's jaw and scratches on his neck, the presence of Brown's DNA on Wilson's collar, shirt and pants, and Wilson's DNA on Brown's palm", and claimed that witnesses who corroborated the officer's account were credible.
Department of Justice concluded that Wilson shot Brown in self-defense. In , St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell spent five months reviewing the case with an eye to charge Wilson with either manslaughter or murder. In July, Bell announced Wilson would not be charged. Louis County eight days before his death, completing an alternative education program.
