The name of the police officer who controversially shot and killed a teen in Ferguson, MO was recently revealed at the demands of hundreds of protestors.
Darren Wilson, a six year veteran with no previous disciplinary issues, was revealed as the man who shot 18 year old Mike Brown on Friday, according to police Chief Thomas Jackson. Hacktivist group Anonymous formerly named the wrong shooter, also prompting officials to release the correct information.
In the minutes before the shooting, Jackson said Wilson had responded to a call about a strong-arm robbery at a convenience store nearby. According to police reports, Brown, an African-American teen, was shot during a struggle for the officer's gun. Witnesses say that while Brown was armed at the time, his arms were raised when he was shot.
Following the shooting, violent protests broke out in Ferguson and nearby towns, and police detained dozens of demonstrators, including two journalists.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol took over security in response at the request of Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon.
As the police department stepped back, the protestors became far more peaceful, chanting for peace instead of engaging in violence.
Although the atmosphere has become far more tranquil since the Highway Patrol took over, Jackson said he will not resign despite protestor's demands.
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to stay and see this through," he told CNN.
Currently, Highway patrol Capt. Ron Johnson is in charge of controlling the masses.
"We have a different approach that we're using this evening," he said, saying that police officers were told to "smile, not scowl."
"I've smiled more today than I have in the past few days."
Maj. Ronnie Robinson, who works with the St. Louis City Police, said it is important that officers empathize with the feelings of the citizens.
"We feel the pain in the community," he said, noting that they can protest 24 hours if they want to. However, he reiterated that there will be law and order-no more looting or vandalizing or blocking streets.
Antonio French, a protestor who was arrested during a demonstration on Wednesday, says the change in authority is a positive one.
Really, it has been the police presence, the heavy-handed presence, which has escalated the situation, and I think led to the violence each night. And so it's good to see this new approach," he said.
On Thursday, President Barack Obama called for peace on all sides.
"There is never an excuse for violence against police or for those who would use this tragedy as a cover for vandalism or looting," he said. "There is also no excuse for police to use excessive force against peaceful protests or throw protesters in jail for lawfully exercising their First Amendment rights."
