Protesters are greeted by lines of State and County police during a demonstration march on the Ferguson police station in Ferguson, Missouri on August 11, 2014. People are upset because of the Ferguson Police shooting and death of an unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

Protesters are greeted by a wall of police officers after a march to the Ferguson Police department in Ferguson, Missouri on August 11, 2014. People are upset because of the Ferguson Police shooting and death of an unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. In all about 20 businesses sustained damage after a candlelight vigil turned violent. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

Police stand in line with weapons drawn as protesters gather on the streets of Ferguson, Missouri on August 18, 2014. The city of Ferguson is quiet in the day but erupts in violence every night for the last nine nights. Protesters have gathered at night to show their displeasure with the Michael Brown shooting on August 9, by a Ferguson Police officer. UPI/Ray Jones | License Photo

Demonstrators chant on the grounds of a burnt out QuikTrip Gas station following a night of looting, rioting and arsons in Ferguson, Missouri on August 11, 2014. People are upset because of the Ferguson Police shooting and death of an unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. In all about 20 businesses sustained damage after a candlelight vigil turned violent. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

Protesters are greeted by a line of Missouri State Police during a protest march on the police station in Ferguson, Missouri on August 11, 2014. People are protesting the police shooting of the unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. Rioting and looting took place in the community on August 10. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

FERGUSON, Mo., Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Federal investigators are launching a probe into the practices of the Ferguson, Mo., police department in the wake of criticism of its handling of the fatal police shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown.

Brown, 18, was shot to death by officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9 after the officer allegedly stopped the teen for walking in the street with a friend.


Some witnesses said Brown had his hands up during the incident and didn't provoke the shooting, while others said Brown attacked Wilson.

The incident sparked a heated racial debate — Brown was black and Wilson is white — that led to protests, vandalism and the governor declaring a state of emergency.

As protests ease in the eastern Missouri city, the U.S. Justice Department is preparing to investigate the police department's practices and training, officials told CNN.

A state official said Justice Department representatives met with Ferguson officials Wednesday to inform them of the planned investigation.