Michael Brown family to sue city of Ferguson, officer

John Bacon | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Michael Brown's family to file civil lawsuit An attorney for the family of Michael Brown announced their intent to file a civil lawsuit. Responding to questions, the lawyer said the city of Ferguson, MIssouri and Darren Wilson will be the focus of the suit.

The family of Michael Brown will file a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Ferguson, Mo., and the police officer who fatally shot him, lawyers said Thursday.

"We feel Officer Darren Wilson did not need to shoot and kill Michael Brown Jr. in broad daylight in the manner that he did," lawyer Anthony Gray said.

Gray and lawyer Daryl Parks said they could provide no details on the lawsuit, which both said would be filed "soon."

The lawyers spoke a day after the Justice Department issued a scathing report blasting the Ferguson Police Department for racially biased policing — but clearing Wilson, who has resigned from the department, in Brown's death.

Gray said the family disagrees with the Justice Department decision. But he added that the burden of proof in a civil case is not as heavy as prosecutors would face in a criminal trial.

Brown's parents, Michael Brown Sr. and Lesley McSpadden, attended Thursday's news conference but did not speak. Justice officials had met with the family prior to announcing the decision not to prosecute Wilson.

The family released a statement Wednesday expressing "disappointment" with the decision.

"While we are saddened by this decision, we are encouraged that the DOJ will hold the Ferguson Police Department accountable for the pattern of racial bias and profiling they found in their handling of interactions with people of color," the statement said. "It is our hope that through this action, true change will come not only in Ferguson but around the country. If that change happens, our son's death will not have been in vain."

Wilson, who is white, resigned almost four months after fatally shooting the black teenager on a Ferguson street Aug. 9. The shooting ignited months of sometimes violent protests. In November, a St. Louis County grand jury declined to indict Wilson on any charges in Brown's death, sparking more protests.