Brown autopsy sparks sharp, divided response: Your Say

The latest autopsy report for Michael Brown, the unarmed black teen who was shot and killed by a white police officer in Ferguson, Mo., shows that he was shot in the hand at close range. Comments from Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

Regardless of any other facts that are revealed, many in Ferguson will continue to riot if the officer in question, Darren Wilson, isn't indicted.

— Mark Jones

Why is it OK for a bunch of white men in cowboy hats to threaten police and challenge authority (with weapons) as was done by rancher Cliven Bundy and others on land in Nevada, but it's not OK for black men on the streets of Ferguson to also challenge police authority and be suspicious of the government's intentions? And the men in Ferguson were not even armed.

I'm not condoning Brown's actions. He paid the ultimate price for his decisions that day. But while white men with rifles get applauded for challenging authority when they break the law, black men better do what they're told by the authorities or else. There seems to be no empathy.

— Colleen Noel Drysdale

People are generally not violent when they are taking marijuana. It seems pointless to emphasize the finding from the autopsy report that Brown had pot in his system. Even if there was some form of struggle, Brown was unarmed. The officer used more force than necessary.

— Colin Yapp

I, like most people, have no idea what really happened. But the story now emerging makes more sense to me than the idea that the cop jumped out of the car and needlessly shot an innocent youth as the youth tried to surrender.

— Bob Hoffman

So who in their right mind runs at someone who is shooting at them? The officer's story sounds fishy. Sounds like he ran up to the teen and executed him at close range while his hands were in the air. The evidence doesn't lie.

— Hue Hendricks

I never supported the Michael Brown protests like I supported the Trayvon Martin protests.

But what I'm hearing is an awful lot of rhetoric that I, as a white guy, interpret as pretty racist. What a shame.

— William Worsham Writes

We asked our followers on Twitter what they thought of the findings in the latest Michael Brown autopsy. Comments are edited for clarity and grammar:

The autopsy casts doubt on testimony that Brown was running away when shot. The truth always comes out.

— @lainnabee

How does an autopsy report show that Brown tried to grab Darren Wilson's gun? People need to stop reaching.

— @sammimatson

Hopefully Ferguson will stay calm. It's looking more like the policeman told the truth.

— @jerseygirl

I really wish people would not rush to judgment one way or the other.

— @LeGrandeLaw

So, now that this has come out, what will become of Wilson's career?

— @GMRobertson

There is no more meaningless fact associated with Brown's autopsy than the discovery of marijuana in his system.

— @JustinGlawe

I just can't believe the Brown autopsy results.

— @igotthatjuice

For more discussions, follow @USATOpinion or #tellusatoday on Twitter.