Michael Brown, an 18-year-old recent high school graduate, was shot and killed by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson on August 9, 2014, after a street encounter on Canfield Drive escalated into a struggle at Wilson’s vehicle and gunfire. Conflicting accounts of the final moments became central to the case, with disputes over whether Brown charged or had his hands raised. The shooting, Brown’s body left in the street for hours, and the police response to ensuing protests made Ferguson a national focal point for debates over police violence, militarized policing, racial injustice, and the treatment of Black communities. Multiple investigations later brought no charges.

Moline Acres, Missouri · USA