Michael Brown shot at least 6 times, independent autopsy shows

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Ferguson, Missouri (CNN) -- Michael Brown was shot at least six times, including twice in the head, according to the preliminary results of an autopsy that his family requested.

Family attorney Anthony Gray said the independent autopsy, conducted Sunday, found that Brown was shot twice in the head and four times in the right arm -- all to the front of his body.

The bullets were not fired from close range, as indicated by the absence of gunpowder residue on his body.

One of the bullets shattered his right eye, traveled through his face, exited his jaw and re-entered his collarbone, according to the autopsy.

The last two shots were likely the ones to his head, Gray said. One entered the top of his Brown's skull, suggesting his head was bent forward when he was struck.

The independent autopsy was conducted by high-profile pathologist Michael Baden. Baden testified in the O.J. Simpson, Phil Spector and Drew Peterson murder trials.

'This is bound to escalate tensions,' the Rev. Jesse Jackson told CNN. 'This is a very provocative report.'

Even before the release of this latest information, the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson has been a racially charged tinderbox.

Late Sunday night, a day of peaceful protests devolved into a night of gunfire, Molotov cocktails and tear gas .

Officers fired tear gas into a crowd of hundreds of protester, including children, who were marching toward a police command post despite an impending midnight curfew. Authorities also struck at least one defiant protester with rubber bullets.

St. Louis County police said several protesters had thrown Molotov cocktails toward the officers before authorities shot tear gas toward them.

The violence escalated through the night as shots were fired toward police. Officers had to take up a defensive position behind vehicles.

'That is a lie. It was no fight, it was no shots fired,' a very upset protester, Lisha Williams, told CNN. 'The only ones who fired was police. All we did was march to the command center to fall to our knees and say, 'Don't shoot.' And they started shooting.'

The scene was a far cry from a packed church earlier Sunday, where hundreds of people gathered for a two-hour rally demanding justice for Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager shot dead eight days ago by a white police officer.

'I'm astonished at this reversal of mood,' Jackson said. 'The mood was so positive.'

Cousin: Brown killed without reason

A cousin of Brown told the church audience that Brown was killed without reason.

'What I want y'all to remember is that Michael Brown was not just some young black boy. He was a human being ... ,' Ty Pruitt said. 'He was not a suspect. He was not an object. He was not an animal. But that's how he was killed.'

Michael Brown's parents -- Lesley McSpadden and Michael Brown Sr. -- appeared on stage at the rally at Greater Grace Church with attorney Benjamin Crump but didn't address the audience.

'What we're really asking for is simple justice,' Crump said. 'We're not asking for anything extraordinary. They just want what anybody else would want if their children were shot down in broad daylight.'

Crump said there would be an independent investigation in addition to the federal and local probes already under way.

New image of officer Darren Wilson Michael Brown Sr. and Lesley McSpadden, the parents of Michael Brown, attend a rally at Greater Grace Church on Sunday, August 17 in Ferguson, Missouri. Violence continues to flare amid protests over the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was shot by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson on August 9, and the actions of police in the aftermath. Emotions run high in Ferguson, Missouri Captain: 'This is my neighborhood' Captain: 'We made seven arrests'

Missouri State Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson spoke to the 1,300 people in the congregation and said he had a heavy heart.

'The past 24 hours have been tough for me,' said Johnson, who took over security in the town on Thursday after what many saw as an overly aggressive police response by the local authorities. Johnson said he met with members of the Brown family and was moved to tears.

Protests had turned violent on Saturday night as well after a curfew began. One male was shot overnight Saturday, authorities said. It was unclear how old he was or who shot him. The victim was in critical condition Sunday.

Officials said state highway patrol officers didn't fire any shots. They did fire tear gas to get to the wounded victim, Johnson said early Sunday.

Who is pathologist Michael Baden? DOJ to do 2nd autopsy on Michael Brown Looting, tensions dash peace in Ferguson A third autopsy

Brown was shot to death August 9 by a police officer after a confrontation as the teen walked down the street. Accounts of exactly what happened when Officer Darren Wilson stopped Brown vary widely.

Witnesses said they saw a scuffle between the officer and Brown at the police car before the young man was shot. Police said Brown struggled with the officer and reached for his weapon.

Several witnesses said Brown raised his hands and was not attacking the officer.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has approved another autopsy on Brown's body, the Justice Department said. The autopsy will be conducted by a federal medical examiner.

In tense Ferguson, trying to balance security, protesters' rights5 things to know about Michael Brown's shootingComplete coverage of the Ferguson shooting

CNN's Steve Almasy and Holly Yan reported and wrote from Atlanta; Steve Kastenbaum reported from Ferguson. CNN's Jennifer Duck, Jim Acosta, Eliott C. McLaughlin, Evan Perez and Joe Sutton contributed to this report.

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