Missouri Governor Calls For "Vigorous Prosecution"

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon (D) has issued the above statement in which he called for a "vigorous prosecution". Should that not have been a vigorous investigation, Governor Nixon?

At a time when violence is still breaking out on the streets of Ferguson, New Black Panther Party leaders like Malik Zulu Shabazz are leading chants of "What do we want?" "Darren Wilson". "How do we want him?" "Dead", and there are two opposing narratives of how Michael Brown was shot and killed, it seems there is a temptation to go for a quick indictment of Officer Darren Wilson in the hopes that will calm the situation and bring the disturbances to an end.

But that would not serve the cause of justice.

Yet, that is exactly what we may see happen here. Also consider that Al Sharpton, just as he did with Treyvon Martin, is spending half his time leading crowds in Ferguson in his "No justice-no peace" chants while holding down his day job as an MSNBC commentator. His MSNBC colleague, Lawrence O'Donnell, has all but convicted Wilson of first degree murder (his own words). Eric Holder will arrive tomorrow and a grand jury is set to convene long before all the evidence is in.

Why not just get the rope?

By all means, let the investigation proceed. If Brown was cut down in cold blood as he ran from Officer Wilson and/or was surrendering with his arms up, then it looks bad for Wilson. If, however, it was Brown who assaulted Wilson in his squad car and tried to get his gun from him, then came back and bum-rushed the officer who had his gun drawn, then that raises the question of whether Wilson was fearful that the 6'4 300 pound Brown was going to strong arm his gun away from him and use it on him (a reasonable scenario). Then it must be considered whether that would justify the firing of those fatal shots.

Much like the Treyvon Martin case, in which we saw a similar rush to judgment, we still don't know the facts yet. That should precede any charges.

In the meantime, Governor Nixon should clarify his remark about "vigorous prosecution"