This year, perhaps more so than others, has had major ups and downs. From the good to the bad to the ugly, let’s take a look back as we break down the 10 biggest moments from 2014 that stormed the headlines and seized the nation’s attention.
Michael Brown Case
On Aug. 9, in Ferguson, Mo., 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot and killed by officer Darren Wilson. Earlier in the day at 11:54 a.m., Brown and his friend Dorian Johnson, according to reports, robbed a convenience store and were walking back to their homes before the shooting happened. At 12:01 p.m., Officer Wilson drove by the two young men and asked them to get off the street. The events that took place next are still under investigation.
Autopsies showed that the teen was shot at least six times. Some witnesses claim to have seen Brown’s hands in the air just as the final fatal shot was fired. Wilson insists that Brown tried to take his gun and punched him repeatedly, leaving open cuts on his face. During the weeks following Brown’s death, the protests ensued and later looting, resulting in night curfews. Michael Brown will never be able to tell us what really happened, but his name will never be forgotten. The grand jury’s decision not to indict Wilson on Nov. 24 caused mass riots and peaceful protests around the country, but the case still has potential for a possible civic and federal action.