Michael Brown's friend sues Ferguson, Wilson, police chief

CLAYTON (AP) - A friend who was with Michael Brown when the 18-year-old was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer is suing the city, the officer and the former police chief.

Dorian Johnson contends in his lawsuit filed last week that Officer Darren Wilson initiated the confrontation that ended in Brown's Aug. 9 death. Johnson alleges Wilson used excessive force, "acted with deliberate indifference or reckless disregard" for Johnson's rights, and never directed a fleeing Johnson and Brown to "stop" or "freeze" before firing at Brown.

A grand jury and the U.S. Justice Department declined to charge Wilson, who later resigned.

Neither Wilson's attorney nor the former chief responded to messages seeking comment Tuesday. Ferguson's city attorney said she was unaware of Johnson's lawsuit and couldn't immediately respond.

Brown's parents filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the defendants on April 23.

An attorney for Johnson, James Williams, said his client's lawsuit is part of the effort "to bring Darren Wilson to justice."

Online court records show Johnson as now living in Metairie, Louisiana.