Mike Brown Family Attends Church Service: 'He Was Not An Animal,' Says Cousin

Mike Brown’s family attended church on Sunday at the Greater Grace Church just north of Ferguson, Missouri. More than 1,000 people attended the service in his memory, while another 500 who were unable to get in stood outside. Brown was killed by police officer Darren Wilson, 28, Aug 9. after he put his hands up during an alleged altercation with cops on a street in Ferguson, according to witnesses. Police said they had cause to shoot Brown.

“What I want you all to remember is that Michael Brown was not just some young black boy. He was a human being, he was a younger cousin, he was a son, he was an uncle, a nephew, he was not a suspect, he was not an object, he was not an animal -- but that’s how he was killed,” said Ty Pruitt, Brown’s cousin, according to the Daily Mail.

Pruitt held his hands up in the air, saying, “This was the last action that our family member made before he went to rest. This will be stuck in my family’s memories for the rest of our lives.”

A preliminary autopsy revealed the 18-year-old was shot at least six times, including twice in the head, the New York Times reported Sunday night. The fatal bullet apparently entered the top of Brown’s skull, which suggests his head was bent forward when it hit him, Dr. Michael M. Baden, the former chief medical examiner for the City of New York, revealed, adding that the fatal bullet was most likely the last one to hit Brown.

Brown’s parents, Michael Brown Sr. and Lesly McSpadden, also attended the Sunday service. The Rev. Al Sharpton sat next to the pair. Brown’s father wore a shirt that read, “No Justice, No Peace,” along with a picture of his son.

Since Brown’s death, there have been numerous protests around the world, and continued unrest in Ferguson.

“They tried it with Trayvon, now they’re trying it with Michael,” said lawyer Benjamin Crump, who is representing Brown’s family and also was the attorney for the relatives of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed black teen who was shot and killed by volunteer community watchman George Zimmerman in Florida in 2012.