By Mustafa Caglayan, Michael Hernandez & Erkan Avci in Washington
NEW YORK
A grand jury refused to bring charges against a white police officer for fatally shooting an unarmed black teen in the city of Ferguson, in a decision that has triggered violent protests in the St. Louis suburb.
"After their exhaustive review of the evidence, the grand jury ... determined that no probable cause exist to file any charge against Officer [Darren] Wilson," St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch said as he announced the decision.
The announcement prompted a wave of anger with hundreds of demonstrators protesting the decision outside the Ferguson Police Department.
St. Louis police have used tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters on the streets of Ferguson, an Anadolu Agency correspondent reported from the scene.
The St. Louis Police Department denied this, tweeting, "Police are not deploying tear gas. They are using #smoke to break up unruly crowds." However, reporters in Ferguson say there is tear gas in the streets.
Television footage showed fires raging as some businesses were looted by angry protesters.
Peaceful demonstrations attended by thousands have also been held in many other cities including New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia.
In other developments, authorities released Wilson's testimony in which he recounts how the confrontation with Brown occured.
He told the grand jury that he feared Brown could beat him to death as the teen started punching him in the face after being identified as a possible suspect in a theft incident.
"As he is coming towards me, I tell, keep telling him to get on the ground, he doesn't. I shoot a series of shots. I don't know how many I shot, I just know I shot it," he testified according to the documents.
He said his main goal was to arrest him and "to keep eyes on him and just to keep him contained until I had people coming there."
Michael Brown's family expressed their "profound disappointment" at the decision.
"While we understand that many others share our pain, we ask that you channel your frustration in ways that will make a positive change. We need to work together to fix the system that allowed this to happen," they said in a statement urging demonstrators to keep protests peaceful.
President Barack Obama urged demonstrators to heed Brown's parents call. "Michael Brown's parents have lost more than anyone. We should be honoring their wishes," he said.
"We need to recognize that the situation in Ferguson speaks to broader challenges that we still face as a nation," he said in a televised address following the announcement. "The fact is, in too many parts of this country a deep distrust exists between law enforcement and communities of color."
Obama said that grievances in communities of color had to be understood and addressed.
Attorney General Eric Holder said Brown's death "has sparked a national conversation about the need to ensure confidence between law enforcement and the communities they protect and serve."
"While constructive efforts are underway in Ferguson and communities nationwide, far more must be done to create enduring trust," he said in a statement stressing that the Justice Department is continuing its own investigation into allegations over whether the Ferguson Police Department has been involved in "unconstitutional policing patterns or practices."
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said the National Guard were in the area to provide security at critical facilities, including police stations, in order to help law enforcement officers. He had declared a state of emergency last week.
The region had been preparing for the announcement since last week, amid fears that the clashes previously seen on the streets of Ferguson could return should the jurors fail to issue an indictment against Wilson.
Further protests are expected on Tuesday.
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