Autopsy sketch showing where bullets struck Michael Brown
This morning the family of Michael Brown, the unarmed 18-year old who was shot down by police in Ferguson, Missouri, will hold a
press conference to discuss the private autopsy report that was released today. The family requested this private autopsy following the still unreleased state-run autopsy.
According to the preliminary autopsy report, Brown was shot six times, twice in the head and four times in his arm and hand.
One of the bullets entered the top of Mr. Brown’s skull, suggesting his head was bent forward when it struck him and caused a fatal injury ... It was likely the last of bullets to hit him, he said.
Mr. Brown, 18, was also shot four times in the right arm, he said, adding that all the bullets were fired into his front.
According to the report, the shots appeared to be fired from a distance, although "that determination could change if it turns out that there is gunshot residue on Mr. Brown’s clothing, to which Dr. Baden did not have access."
In addition to the autopsy by the local medical examiner, this private autopsy, performed by Dr. Michael Baden, Attorney General Eric Holder announced:
... that a federal medical examiner would conduct an independent autopsy ... Officials said the decision was the result of “extraordinary circumstances” in the case, and was part of a civil rights investigation the F.B.I. is conducting.
Updates will follow as warranted.
7:49 AM PT: You can watch the press conference here.
7:58 AM PT: From the press conference, saying the two shots to the head were both "back to front" and "supports what witnesses said," and "that this officer should have been arrested."
8:04 AM PT:
#MichaelBrown's family "wants to know simple questions that they haven't been able to answer," says Baden.
— @jbendery
8:11 AM PT: Says shot to lower arm "consistent" with either facing away or having arms up to surrender.
8:12 AM PT: Dr. Baden says no gunshot residue found on skin, meaning shots could have been from one to two feet away ... or 30 feet away.
8:13 AM PT: Dr. Baden says there was no evidence on Brown's body of a struggle.
8:23 AM PT:
Dr. Michael Baden says all of the gunshot wounds Michael Brown sustained were 'survivable except the 1 to the top of his head' - live video
— @BreakingNews
And the press conference has ended.