Donations for the police officer who shot and fatally wounded black teenager Michael Brown have reached over $100,000 (£60,000) as support for him continues.

Brown was shot by white police officer Darren Wilson on a street in Ferguson. Racial tensions have been heightened in the area since Brown’s death, where the residents are predominately black and the police force, political leadership and public education are largely white.

Witnesses say Brown, 18, was shot with his hands in the air in a position of surrender, while police claim officer Wilson shot him during an altercation. The words 'hands up, don't shoot' have become an enduring symbol during demonstrations.

The gofundme page for Wilson, who is on paid leave, has had to up its original target for a third time to $150,000 dollars after receiving thousands in just four days.

It explains: “This page has been created to support Officer Darren Wilson of the Ferguson Police Department.

A police officer escorts Patty Canter who holds a sign reading, " My Family & Friends Support Officer Wilson and the Police", away from protesters (Getty Images)

“We stand behind Officer Darren Wilson and his family during this trying time in their lives. All proceeds will be sent directly to Darren Wilson and his family for any financial needs they may have including legal fees.”

A Facebook group for the officer has also garnered over 45,000 likes. The group behind the page has also organised a rally in downtown St Louis on Saturday.

Their previous rally attracted a crowd of about 100 people and T-shirts with a slogan supporting Wilson emblazoned across them sold out within hours.

Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Show all 30 1 /30 Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson A woman, who declined to give her name, joins several hundred others in Oakland, Calif. during a protest against the shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year old by a white police officer in Ferguson, Mo AP Photo/Noah Berger Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson Local resident, 9-year-old Ciara Hampton places roses along West Florissant Street as residents called for peaceful demonstrations in Ferguson, Missouri AP Photo/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Curtis Compton Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson Two protesters sit with their faces covered during a peaceful protest takes place on a street in Ferguson, Missouri. Police lowered their profile and refrained from using tear gas, to allow a more orderly night of protests in this St Louis suburb, 10 days after the police shooting of an unarmed black teenager Michael B. Thomas/AFP/Getty Images Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson Demonstrators protest the killing of teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri Getty Images North America Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson Police arrest a demonstrator protesting the killing of teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson People join hands during a protest in Ferguson AP Photo/Charlie Riedel Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson Masked protesters pose in the 'Hands up, don't shoot' position: a paraphrase of the alleged last words of Michael Brown before he was shot and killed by a police officer Getty Images Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson Demonstrators attend a protest on West Florissant Avenue in Ferguson, Missouri. Police fired tear gas in another night of unrest AFP/Getty Images Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson Police fired tear gas in another night of unrest in a Missouri town where a white police officer shot and killed an unarmed black teenager, just hours after President Barack Obama called for calm AFP/Getty Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson Police officers tell protesters to move away in another night of protests over the death of teenager Michael Brown AFP/Getty Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson Demonstrators attend a protest on West Florissant Avenue in Ferguson, Missouri. Police fired tear gas in another night of unrest AFP/Getty Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson A demonstrator is held by a police officer as he reacts to tear gas thrown to disperse the riots in Ferguson AFP/Getty Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson Demonstrators gesture during a protest on West Florissant Avenue in Ferguson, Missouri AFP/Getty Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson Law enforcement officers stand guard during a protest on West Florissant Avenue in Ferguson AFP/Getty Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson Police officers tell protesters to move away in another night of protests over the death of teenager Michael Brown AFP/Getty Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson Demonstrators hold up roses while protesting the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri Joe Raedle/Getty Images Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson Demonstrators protesting over the police shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown yell at Missouri State Highway Patrol Captain Ronald Johnson (not pictured) in Ferguson, Missouri. Despite the Brown family's continued call for peaceful demonstrations, violent protests have erupted nearly every night in Ferguson since his death Getty Images Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson Police officers setup to push protesters to disperse during a protest by using tear gas on West Florissant Road in Ferguson, Missouri. Riot police hurled tear gas and marched on rioters in the St Louis suburb of Ferguson, wracked by race riots since police shot dead an unarmed black teenager AFP/Getty Images Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson A sign left behind after a protest on West Florissant Road in Ferguson, over the shooting of an unarmed black teenager AFP/Getty Images Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson A woman has her face doused with water after being tear gassed by police as she was protesting Michael Brown's death in Ferguson, Missouri Getty Images Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson Protestors demonstrate in Ferguson over the police shooting of an unarmed black teenager on 9 August AFP/Getty Images Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson Police sit on an armoured vehicle as they hold a line against demonstrators who continue to protest over the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri PA Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson A protester carries an image of Libra - a symbol of equality - during protests in Ferguson. Riot police hurled tear gas and marched on rioters in the St Louis suburb wracked by race riots since police shot dead an unarmed black teenager on August 9 AFP/Getty Images Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson Protestors demonstrate in Ferguson. The Governor of Missouri, Jay Nixon, has criticised police in the town of Ferguson for their 'over-militarised' response to protests following the death last week of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager fatally shot by a white officer AFP/Getty Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson Protests in Ferguson: Riot police hurled tear gas and marched on rioters in the St Louis suburb wracked by race riots since police shot dead an unarmed black teenager AFP/Getty Images Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson A man protesting Michael Brown's murder walks away from tear gas released by police in Ferguson, Missouri Getty Images Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson People take refuge from tear gas during riots in Ferguson, Missouri, over the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri Joshua Lott Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson Police officers stand guard during riots in Ferguson, the St Louis suburb wracked by race riots since police shot dead an unarmed black teenager on 9 August AFP/Getty Images Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson A woman has her face doused with water after being tear gassed by police as she was protesting Michael Brown's murder August 17, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri Getty Images Unrest in Ferguson over Michael Brown shooting Unrest in Ferguson Demonstrators protesting the death of Michael Brown walk past tear gas released by police in Ferguson Getty Images

On Wednesday, a grand jury began hearing evidence in the case as protesters stepped up their demands that the local criminal probe be turned over to a special prosecutor. The panel could be considering evidence until the middle of October.

The Justice Department is seeking specifically to determine whether federal prosecutors can bring criminal charges against Wilson for violating Brown's civil rights by use of excessive force.

Eric Holder, the US Attorney General, met with Brown’s parents on Wednesday and has promised a "full, fair and independent" investigation into his death.

Video: Clashes continue in Ferguson

Holder, who is the first African-American to head the Justice Department, also met with community leaders at a community college during his visit to Ferguson.

During his time there, he told a meeting: "I am the Attorney General of the United States, but I am also a black man ... I can remember being stopped on the New Jersey turnpike on two occasions and accused of speeding. Pulled over."