Michael Brown, the the black, 18-year-old described as a “gentle giant” who was shot and killed by a Ferguson, Mo. police officer, reportedly took part in a second degree murder while he was a juvenile, according to a freelance journalist.
Charles C. Johnson, who has contributed for such publications as The Daily Caller, TheBlaze and National Review, is now Gotnews.com’s founder and editor-in-chief. He filed an explosive lawsuit in St. Louis County Circuit Court last week alleging that he “was informed by law enforcement authorities at the local and federal levels that Michael Brown had a substantial juvenile record,” according to Johnson’s pleadings.
“Specifically, Plaintiff [Johnson] was given information suggesting that Brown had been charged with second degree murder, while he was a juvenile,” his pleadings continue.
Shortly before he filed his complaint, Johnson tweeted:
I had two law enforcement contacts who told me #MichaelBrown had juvenile criminal record. I will be suing to get the answer. #Ferguson
— Charles C. Johnson (@ChuckCJohnson) August 20, 2014
Confirmed earlier report that #MichaelBrown had juvenile arrest record involving second degree murder… Working on getting report #Ferguson
— Charles C. Johnson (@ChuckCJohnson) August 18, 2014
It looks as though Johnson found what he was looking for. On Wednesday, he tweeted:
I will publish a game changing story Sun night on http://t.co/WmWhxLv0bZ about how media GOT PLAYED covering #MichaelBrown shooting death.
— Charles C. Johnson (@ChuckCJohnson) August 29, 2014
One of Johnson’s Twitter followers offered his own assessment of the media being “played”:
@ChuckCJohnson @saveusrepublic2 The media didn't get played.They were willingly stupid and biased in the name of ratings.
— The Riceman (@ricemanstm) August 29, 2014
Given the violence that has erupted in Ferguson since the Brown shooting, another offered some cautionary advice:
.@ChuckCJohnson @EricAmey2 Be careful. Seriously.
— mary (@mpg25mary) August 29, 2014
(h/t: Young Conservatives)