Louis Head, inciting a riot, Ferguson, Missouri, Michael Brown

Louis Had, the stepfather of Michael Brown, is being investigated by law enforcement over claims that he was responsible for inciting a riot in Ferguson, Missouri after a grand jury returned a no true bill in the fatal shooting of the 18 year old black teen by white officer Darren Wilson a few months ago. As the parents of the boy who died Heard and Brown’s mother were understandably upset over the lack of charges, but what happened next could lead to criminal charges against Louis Head for inciting a riot. When the grand jury returned their decision a crowd had already formed outside the police station in Ferguson, Missouri. As the prosecutor announced the grand jury decision the crowd outside was very tense, and protests were expected by the public but agreements between community leaders and police called for peaceful protests without any property damage or violence.

When the decision by the grand jury in the Michael Brown case was announced news cameras were everywhere, and one filmed Louis Head making some very inflammatory comments that are viewed by many as inciting a riot. After the announcement Michael Brown’s mother, who was on a car outside of the Ferguson, Missouri police station, broke down in tears. Louis Head climbed up onto the car beside Brown’s mother and started telling the crowd to “Burn this bitch down.” This phrase was repeated by Heard more than once, and within the next 24 hours more than a dozen businesses and buildings in the community were burned to the ground. Many others were looted and damaged during the riots.

Is Louis Head guilty of inciting a riot? What do you think?