Not enough evidence exists to bring civil rights charges against the white police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, investigators for the Justice Department said.
The Washington Post reports that the Justice Department is reluctant to acknowledge the lack of evidence because of high tensions in the greater St. Louis area.
Justice Department spokesman Brian Fallon maintains the case is still open.
“This is an irresponsible report by The Washington Post that is based on idle speculation,” Fallon said in a statement.
But the Post interviewed other law enforcement officials who said it was not premature to conclude the investigation is ending.
“The evidence we have makes federal civil rights charges unlikely,” one said.