The lawyer for suspect Jeffrey Williams now says that his client has told him that he “never fired a weapon” at two officers last week during protests in Ferguson. Williams was arrested and charged with multiple felony counts after two police officers were shot while guarding a police station in Ferguson the evening that the city’s police chief resigned. The chief and two other city officials handed in their resignations following a Department of Justice report that revealed widespread racial discrimination among city law enforcement. Neither of the officers who were shot were members of the Ferguson PD.
Williams’ lawyer told Yahoo News that his client was pistol whipped by officers, adding, “I think under those circumstances he would have said anything. Anytime someone is questioned without counsel and then I see that kind of bruising, then I’m suspicious about any statements that he may have voluntarily given.” Mug shots show bruising on Williams face, but the department says the allegations are “completely false,” adding “the nurse released Williams as fit for confinement.” A relative, however, told Yahoo News Williams has been in the jail infirmary for days.
Williams initially confessed to police that he was the shooter, but said he fired the shots at someone else during an unrelated confrontation. Both officers survived. A local pastor visited with Williams this weekend, and also said that Williams acknowledged being the shooter to him, and expressed remorse. The circumstances of his arrest are still unclear; though police say Williams did not resist, the number of officers who made the arrest has not been released, and they were not wearing body cameras …
