Ferguson Update: Friday, August 15, 2014

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The mother of an unarmed black teenager whose shooting death by a white police officer has sparked racial unrest near St. Louis made an appearance during an anti-brutality gathering near the city's Gateway Arch. Lesley McSpadden did not speak during the event but waved to the hundreds who attended last night in St. Louis, not far from the suburb of Ferguson where 18-year-old Michael Brown died on Saturday.

FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) — The family Michael Brown is asking the U.S. Department of Justice to oversee a second autopsy. The family's attorney, Ben Crump, tells The Associated Press that funeral arrangements for 18-year-old Michael Brown are on hold until a second autopsy can be performed. Crump says the hope is that Brown's funeral will take place by the weekend of August 23rd.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Eric Holder is promising the Michael Brown a full, independent civil rights investigation. Holder's promise came Thursday in a telephone call with the family of 18-year-old Michael Brown.

FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) — A large crowd of people protesting the death of a black Missouri teenager shot by a white police officer have gathered in Ferguson, chanting and carrying signs. Last night's protests came as the Missouri State Highway Patrol is taking over supervising security in the St. Louis suburb amid criticisms of heavy-handed police tactics. Several demonstrators stopped to shake hands with police and troopers.