CLAYTON, Mo.—Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon ’s office said he would hold a news conference this evening ahead of an expected announcement of a grand jury’s decision on whether to indict white Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown.
Earlier, a spokeswoman for the St. Louis County executive confirmed that the grand jury had “finished with its work.”
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon arrived in the area on Monday evening and was expected to hold a news conference at 5:30 p.m. local time, “calling for peace and discussing preparations to protect the public and free speech, in anticipation of the announcement of the grand jury decision,” according to a release from his office.
Mr. Nixon will be joined by St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and Department of Public Safety Director Dan Isom.
There have been no announcements about when the grand jury announcement will be made, but it is expected later Monday evening.
The spokeswoman for the county executive earlier in the day had said a news conference was planned for an earlier time.
The grand jury has been hearing testimony for months on whether to indict Mr. Wilson for the Aug. 9 shooting of the 18 year old.
The initial incident brought weeks of sometimes violent protest in the Ferguson area. And police, businesses and protesters have been preparing for the possibility of unrest when the jury announces its decision.
A grand jury decision on the case against Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., is expected soon. WSJ's law bureau deputy chief Ashby Jones explains how grand juries work. Photo: AP
A spokeswoman for Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, who declared a state of emergency and called in the National Guard last week, said he will be in St. Louis on Monday, but declined to say any more about his plans for the day.
On Friday, the St. Louis County police put up metal barricades around their main building in downtown Clayton. On Saturday, police and workers arranged barricades in front of the justice center where the grand jury has been meeting.
Shops have long been boarded up in Ferguson, some to replace windows smashed during protests in the summer, others to prevent damage in case of more civil disturbance. But in nearby Clayton, shopkeepers have just recently begun to board up their store fronts in anticipation of property damage following the impending grand-jury decision.
Rick Canamore, from Normandy, Mo., demonstrates against the August shooting on Monday outside the police station in Ferguson, Mo. ASSOCIATED PRESS
On Aug. 9, Mr. Wilson stopped Mr. Brown and another man for walking in the street. Brown family lawyers and police accounts say a struggle between the officer and Mr. Brown took place at the officer’s cruiser, resulting in the firing of Mr. Wilson’s pistol.
Mr. Brown then moved away from the vehicle. Accounts of what happened then differ. Mr. Brown’s family says the unarmed teen put his hands up or out in supplication, while police and pathologists have said Mr. Brown likely had been moving toward the officer. Mr. Wilson then fired multiple shots, killing Mr. Brown.
Write to Ben Kesling at benjamin.kesling@wsj.com
