Despite the shooting of Michael Brown taking place on Aug. 9, protests are still ongoing. With strong emotions surrounding the events in Ferguson, Missouri, it is crucial to examine all of the available information in order to understand the full scope of the situation.

Officer Darren Wilson had originally stopped Michael Brown for jaywalking with his friend Dorian Johnson. According to police, a struggle ensued inside of the police cruiser between Officer Wilson and Brown over the officer’s weapon. Brown was then shot six times. He received multiple gunshot wounds to the hand and arm, before a final round to the top of his head fatally wounded him. At the time of the incident, Brown’s friend Dorian Johnson told police that Michael put his hands up in the air and told the police officer that he did not have a gun. This sparked riots and protests in Ferguson, as the community was outraged by the nature of the shooting. More information was released soon thereafter that cast doubt on the notion of police brutality.

After the name of the officer who shot and killed Michael Brown was released, a video was also given to the press showing Michael Brown along with his friend Dorian, robbing cigars from a liquor store and violently shoving the salesman in order to escape. Because Officer Wilson was not aware of the theft at the time of the shooting, Brown’s family is claiming that the video is merely a “character assassination attempt.” If character is to be called into question it is also important to understand the media’s portrayal of Brown. Brown is often described as an “unarmed black teenager,” indicating that Michael posed no threat to the police officer and therefore the situation did not justify lethal force. However, it is not widely publicized that Michael brown was 6’4”, 292 lbs. at the time of his death. If an altercation did take place inside Officer Wilson’s car and Michael Brown did attempt to steal the officer’s weapon, the shooting was justified.

Medical examiner, Dr. Michael Graham, stated that the trajectory of the gunshot wound to the hand “does support that there was a significant altercation at the car.” It should also be noted that Dorian Brown, Michael’s friend whose statement sparked protests, has a record of theft, lying to police, skipping court and previously had a warrant out for his arrest.

While police brutality is a major problem in America and deserves the nation’s attention, it is difficult to say for certain that the incidents that have occurred in Ferguson qualify as such. Protests in Ferguson are still underway, and the police have responded in force with hundreds of militarized police officers and unconstitutional “free speech zones.” New information is still surfacing as the chief of police in Ferguson is expected to resign.