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Michael Brown and Ferguson: The Story in Photos

On Saturday, August 9, 2014, eighteen-year-old Michael Brown was walking with a friend on the 2900 block of Canfield Drive in Ferguson, Missouri, when the two came across a Ferguson police officer. What happened next is unclear, but after a series of gunshots, Michael Brown was lying face down in the street in a pool of blood. He was dead, shot repeatedly by officer Darren Wilson, a six-year veteran. Brown was unarmed, and many witnesses say he had his hands raised in the air at the time he was shot.

In the days following the shooting, there have been outpourings of support, sorrow, and anger from celebrities and community members alike. Many have taken to the streets of Ferguson to protest. What began as a peaceful demonstration turned increasingly violent, and the protests turned into riots. Now two others have been shot in separate incidents, and the tension surrounding Brown's death continues to permeate St. Louis and the country.

The photographs above were taken by Riverfront Times photographers and writers as well as by contributors. A number of different cameras and cell phones were used.

See also:
- Our full coverage of Michael Brown's death and Ferguson's unrest here.
- Slideshow: Hundreds Gather in NYC to Protest Michael Brown's Death
- Slideshow: Michael Brown Protest in Downtown Miami
- Slideshow: Ferguson Protestors Rally in Denver
- Slideshow: Several Arrested in NYC During March Against Police Brutality
- Why the Outrage After Michael Brown's Death Was Different From the Outrage After Eric Garner's Death

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The cover of the August 14, 2014, edition of the Riverfront Times.
Bryan Sutter, Theo Welling, Tom Carlson
The cover of the August 14, 2014, edition of the Riverfront Times.
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Barely 24 hours after a Ferguson police officer shot and killed Michael Brown, his family wanted people to know that Brown was a shy, nonviolent kid who loved music and wanted to go to college. Read "Family of Michael Brown, Teenager Shot to Death By Ferguson Police, Talks About His Life."
Courtesy of the family
Barely 24 hours after a Ferguson police officer shot and killed Michael Brown, his family wanted people to know that Brown was a shy, nonviolent kid who loved music and wanted to go to college. Read "Family of Michael Brown, Teenager Shot to Death By Ferguson Police, Talks About His Life."
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On August 10 in Ferguson, protesters held a vigil for Michael Brown. The event started out peacefully, with many people holding signs and candles as they faced hundreds of cops in riot gear. But as the night wore on, vigil candle lights gave way to smashed windows. Read "Peaceful Protest for Mike Brown Before Riot Police and Looting Takes Over."
Ray Downs
On August 10 in Ferguson, protesters held a vigil for Michael Brown. The event started out peacefully, with many people holding signs and candles as they faced hundreds of cops in riot gear. But as the night wore on, vigil candle lights gave way to smashed windows. Read "Peaceful Protest for Mike Brown Before Riot Police and Looting Takes Over."
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Nobody is robbing St. Louis Ink Tattoo Studio anytime soon. Or County Guns, for that matter. Read "Ferguson Riots: North County Business Owners (Some Armed) Survey the Damage."
Bryan Sutter
Nobody is robbing St. Louis Ink Tattoo Studio anytime soon. Or County Guns, for that matter. Read "Ferguson Riots: North County Business Owners (Some Armed) Survey the Damage."
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By 9:30 a.m. August 11, with the smoke and violence of the previous night's looting and riots gone, a crowd of some 50 demonstrators arrived in front of Ferguson's police and fire departments to continue the protests over the death of Michael Brown. By 10 a.m., the crowd swelled to several hundred. Read "After Night of Looting in Ferguson, Protesters March Looking for Answers."
Mitch Ryals
By 9:30 a.m. August 11, with the smoke and violence of the previous night's looting and riots gone, a crowd of some 50 demonstrators arrived in front of Ferguson's police and fire departments to continue the protests over the death of Michael Brown. By 10 a.m., the crowd swelled to several hundred. Read "After Night of Looting in Ferguson, Protesters March Looking for Answers."
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"Every time something would happen he would rap about it," explains Brown's grandmother Desuirea Harris."'Oh, you gotta hear this, oh, you gotta hear this.' ...He was excited. He was excited about life." Read "The Rap Music of Mike Brown, Slain Ferguson Teenager."
Jessica Lussenhop
"Every time something would happen he would rap about it," explains Brown's grandmother Desuirea Harris."'Oh, you gotta hear this, oh, you gotta hear this.' ...He was excited. He was excited about life." Read "The Rap Music of Mike Brown, Slain Ferguson Teenager."
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Police and SWAT forces were out in force in Ferguson on August 11, and they used armored vehicles, rubber bullets and tear gas to clear groups of protesters and pedestrians from roads, parking lots and, occasionally, residents' own backyards. Read "Police to Ferguson Bystanders: 'You Are in the Middle of a War Zone.'"
Danny Wicentowski
Police and SWAT forces were out in force in Ferguson on August 11, and they used armored vehicles, rubber bullets and tear gas to clear groups of protesters and pedestrians from roads, parking lots and, occasionally, residents' own backyards. Read "Police to Ferguson Bystanders: 'You Are in the Middle of a War Zone.'"
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On August 11, police in riot gear marched down West Florissant Avenue, ordering people to leave the area and firing tear gas onto the streets. Police even fired tear gas into the backyard of a home where several people held their "hands up" in what's become a symbol of protest over the shooting of Michael Brown. Read "Police in Ferguson Fire Tear Gas on Protesters Standing in Their Own Backyard."
Ray Downs
On August 11, police in riot gear marched down West Florissant Avenue, ordering people to leave the area and firing tear gas onto the streets. Police even fired tear gas into the backyard of a home where several people held their "hands up" in what's become a symbol of protest over the shooting of Michael Brown. Read "Police in Ferguson Fire Tear Gas on Protesters Standing in Their Own Backyard."
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"If you have any information please, please give it to us," said Michael Brown Sr. "We want everything. We want this done. We want to do this right. I don't want no violence -- we don't want no violence." Read "Michael Brown Family: We 'Reject' Ferguson Police Version of Teen's Death."
Theo Welling
"If you have any information please, please give it to us," said Michael Brown Sr. "We want everything. We want this done. We want to do this right. I don't want no violence -- we don't want no violence." Read "Michael Brown Family: We 'Reject' Ferguson Police Version of Teen's Death."
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St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar says he expected the FBI to join the investigation because of the "magnitude" of the shooting, which spurred violent looters to burn businesses and fire gun shots August 10 after a peaceful vigil in Brown's honor. At the podium is St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, during a press conference on August 11. Read "FBI Launches Independent Investigation into Shooting Death of Michael Brown."
Lindsay Toler
St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar says he expected the FBI to join the investigation because of the "magnitude" of the shooting, which spurred violent looters to burn businesses and fire gun shots August 10 after a peaceful vigil in Brown's honor. At the podium is St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, during a press conference on August 11. Read "FBI Launches Independent Investigation into Shooting Death of Michael Brown."
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"Martin Luther King did not live and die that we might steal in the name of justice in the middle of the night," NAACP President Cornell Brooks said August 11. "He lived and died that we might see justice in the middle of the day!" Read "NAACP Leader Calls for Restraint in Ferguson, Demands "Unfiltered" Truth in Teen's Shooting."
Theo Welling
"Martin Luther King did not live and die that we might steal in the name of justice in the middle of the night," NAACP President Cornell Brooks said August 11. "He lived and died that we might see justice in the middle of the day!" Read "NAACP Leader Calls for Restraint in Ferguson, Demands "Unfiltered" Truth in Teen's Shooting."
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Erica Hampton's friend lives near the QuikTrip on West Florissant Avenue that was looted and burned August 10, so that's where she, her son, her four-year-old daughter headed on Monday morning, ready to get to work. Armed with shovels donated from Home Depot, the volunteer cleaning crew cleared the parking lot, which was covered in food wrappers and trash as well as burned debris. Read "Volunteers Clean Up at Ferguson QuikTrip, Get Yelled At for 'Helping the White Man."
Kathryn Banks
Erica Hampton's friend lives near the QuikTrip on West Florissant Avenue that was looted and burned August 10, so that's where she, her son, her four-year-old daughter headed on Monday morning, ready to get to work. Armed with shovels donated from Home Depot, the volunteer cleaning crew cleared the parking lot, which was covered in food wrappers and trash as well as burned debris. Read "Volunteers Clean Up at Ferguson QuikTrip, Get Yelled At for 'Helping the White Man."
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"We have reached out to him and looked for him on numerous occasions. We've also contacted his friends," St. Louis County police spokesman Brian Schellman said. "We reached out to his attorney's office, we put a call in to his attorney, and we're waiting on a return phone call." Read "Why Police Haven't Interviewed Michael Brown Shooting Witness Dorian Johnson."
MSNBC screenshot
"We have reached out to him and looked for him on numerous occasions. We've also contacted his friends," St. Louis County police spokesman Brian Schellman said. "We reached out to his attorney's office, we put a call in to his attorney, and we're waiting on a return phone call." Read "Why Police Haven't Interviewed Michael Brown Shooting Witness Dorian Johnson."
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The armored vehicles, equipped with sound cannons, remained parked in the street just south of the QuikTrip. Lying prone on top of one of them, an officer peered down the scope of his rifle, which he had trained directly at the crowd. Within only 30 minutes, and without any violence or crime committed by those assembled, the scene in Ferguson had moved from peaceful protest to occupied territory. Read "Peaceful Crowd of Protesters Dispersed By Heavily Militarized Police Force In Ferguson."
Danny Wicentowski
The armored vehicles, equipped with sound cannons, remained parked in the street just south of the QuikTrip. Lying prone on top of one of them, an officer peered down the scope of his rifle, which he had trained directly at the crowd. Within only 30 minutes, and without any violence or crime committed by those assembled, the scene in Ferguson had moved from peaceful protest to occupied territory. Read "Peaceful Crowd of Protesters Dispersed By Heavily Militarized Police Force In Ferguson."
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Protester Stanyale Riley captured video of police marching in riot gear and launching tear gas toward a small group of protesters. "Tear gas. Just like that. That's what they feel about your civil liberties. You have no rights in the United States. Trust and believe me," Riley says in the video. Read "Police Accused of Unnecessary Force as Third Night of Ferguson Protests End with Tear Gas."
Ray Downs
Protester Stanyale Riley captured video of police marching in riot gear and launching tear gas toward a small group of protesters. "Tear gas. Just like that. That's what they feel about your civil liberties. You have no rights in the United States. Trust and believe me," Riley says in the video. Read "Police Accused of Unnecessary Force as Third Night of Ferguson Protests End with Tear Gas."
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After meetings all over the St. Louis area called for peace, dialogue and justice on August 12, another drama-filled night took place on West Florissant, near the QuikTrip that burned on August 10 night and not far from where Reverend Al Sharpton appeared with Michael Brown's family. Read "Two Shot in Separate Incidents During Another Tense Night in Ferguson."
Bryan Sutter
After meetings all over the St. Louis area called for peace, dialogue and justice on August 12, another drama-filled night took place on West Florissant, near the QuikTrip that burned on August 10 night and not far from where Reverend Al Sharpton appeared with Michael Brown's family. Read "Two Shot in Separate Incidents During Another Tense Night in Ferguson."
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At the end of his remarks, Al Sharpton made a plea directed at the QuikTrip demonstrators in the crowd, in particular the young men. "I want 100 brothers to come up here," he said. Read "Rev. Al Sharpton Recruits 'Justice Disciples' to Restore Order to Ferguson."
Jessica Lussenhop
At the end of his remarks, Al Sharpton made a plea directed at the QuikTrip demonstrators in the crowd, in particular the young men. "I want 100 brothers to come up here," he said. Read "Rev. Al Sharpton Recruits 'Justice Disciples' to Restore Order to Ferguson."
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Following the August 12 announcement that Ferguson police officials refused to disclose the name of the officer who shot Brown, #OpFurguson went after St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar's daughter directly. Read "Anonymous Threatens STL County Police Chief's Daughter, Then Backtracks."
YouTube screenshot
Following the August 12 announcement that Ferguson police officials refused to disclose the name of the officer who shot Brown, #OpFurguson went after St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar's daughter directly. Read "Anonymous Threatens STL County Police Chief's Daughter, Then Backtracks."
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The demonstration on August 12 began outside the Buzz Westfall Justice Center with civil-rights activist Anthony Shahid using a pair of stuffed dogs and a noose around his neck as props to drive home his message. Read "Clayton Protest Over Michael Brown's Killing Stresses Peaceful Solution to Unrest."
Mitch Ryals
The demonstration on August 12 began outside the Buzz Westfall Justice Center with civil-rights activist Anthony Shahid using a pair of stuffed dogs and a noose around his neck as props to drive home his message. Read "Clayton Protest Over Michael Brown's Killing Stresses Peaceful Solution to Unrest."
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Feeling helpless? Wish you could do something to stop the violence on TV and in your social-media streams? You're not alone. Read "7 Peaceful Ways to Respond to Michael Brown's Death, Ferguson Unrest."
Jessica Lussenhop
Feeling helpless? Wish you could do something to stop the violence on TV and in your social-media streams? You're not alone. Read "7 Peaceful Ways to Respond to Michael Brown's Death, Ferguson Unrest."
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