Outrage in Ferguson: the shooting of an unarmed black teen in Missouri has stirred protest and debate.

• Author: Smith, Patricia
• Position: NATIONAL

Events in Ferguson, Missouri, unfolded quickly in the aftermath of the shooting of Michael Brown (above). Here are the basics of what happened last month-based on information available at press time--and what it means for the nation. Check upfrontmagazine.com for updates.

What happened?

On August 9, Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old, was shot and killed by a white police officer under unclear circumstances.

The killing in Ferguson set off massive protests in the St. Louis suburb and heavy media coverage nationwide. The protests were largely peaceful, but a small number of people smashed car windows, looted stores, and threw firebombs. In some cases, police in riot gear responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and military equipment.

To restore order, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon called in the National Guard. Authorities also imposed a curfew to prevent protests at night when they're more likely to turn violent.

What's in dispute?

Police say that Officer Darren Wilson stopped Brown and a friend for walking in the middle of the street and blocking traffic. Witnesses seem to agree that a struggle began while Wilson was in his patrol car; Wilson's gun went off inside the car. As Brown ran away, the officer got out of his car and fired at him. Then Brown stopped and turned around to face Wilson.

Accounts of what happened next differ. Some witnesses say Brown moved toward the officer, possibly in a threatening manner, when he was shot. Others say he wasn't moving and may have had his hands up when he was shot.

According to autopsy results, Brown was shot six times in the front of his body. One bullet entered the top of his skull, suggesting his head was bent forward when it struck him, causing a fatal injury.

Why have people reacted so strongly?

Whatever the facts turn out to be in this case, Brown's shooting unleashed a lot of underlying tensions.

In Ferguson, where two-thirds of residents are black, only three of the town's 53 police officers are black. The mayor and five of the town's six City Council members are white. Many residents feel alienated; in the last election, only 12 percent of eligible residents went to the polls.

For blacks in Ferguson, the shooting reinforces the feeling that the government and police aren't looking out for them.

"They're just outraged, and they're tired of the police messing with them," says Patrice McHaskell, a nursery school teacher in Ferguson. "It brought out all the anger and tension that...