CBS St. Louis, November 10, 2014

Ferguson is “getting prepared for war” if a grand jury doesn’t indict Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown.

Missouri State Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson told CBS News he has been meeting with students, gang members and ministers about what might happen following the grand jury decision that is expected to come down this month.

“There’s a lot of fear. A lot of people are afraid of what could happen,” Johnson explained. “In the end, this is gonna be the community we have to live in.”

Ronardo Ward, 33, is one of those hoping to maintain peace in Ferguson if Wilson isn’t indicted.

“We are getting prepared for war,” Ward told CBS News. “And that’s just crazy.”

Michael Johnson, 42, believes many young people will rail against the “system.”

“There’s gonna be a lot of angry young people that’s pretty much not gonna listen to the system anymore,” Michael Johnson said. “Why should they?”

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Despite the potential violence, Johnson doesn’t believe Ferguson is ready to explode if Wilson is not indicted.

“I don’t think it’s going to be as bad as people want to make it out to be, but I think there’s some tough times ahead,” Johnson stated.

Activists asked last Wednesday for advance notice before prosecutors announce whether Wilson will face charges in the shooting death of Brown, saying they can help prevent widespread violence if they have 48 hours to prepare for protests.

Members of the Don’t Shoot Coalition said at a news conference that they want to “de-escalate violence without de-escalating action” once a grand jury decides whether to indict Wilson, who is white, for the Aug. 9 shooting of Brown, who was black.

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Ed Magee, a spokesman for St. Louis County Attorney Bob McCulloch, who is overseeing the grand jury investigation, met with McPhearson and attorney Denise Lieberman earlier Wednesday and said the coalition’s request for 48 hours’ notice of a grand jury decision is “being considered.”

The grand jury was expected to hear evidence in Brown’s case until mid-November, but McCulloch said Tuesday night that its work could continue for several more weeks. {snip}

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