Protesters march in Ferguson, Missouri, on Thursday, August 21. The St. Louis suburb has been in turmoil since a white police officer, Darren Wilson, fatally shot an unarmed black teenager, Michael Brown, on August 9. Some protesters and law enforcement officers have clashed in the streets, leading to injuries and arrests. 
A crowd gathers in Ferguson on August 21. With the situation appearing to calm, Gov. Jay Nixon ordered the Missouri National Guard to begin withdrawing from the city. 
Police escort a Wilson supporter to a police vehicle, away from crowds protesting Brown's death on Wednesday, August 20. Police have said Brown and Wilson struggled over the officer's gun; some witnesses said Brown had his hands in the air when he was shot. 
Lightning streaks over protesters on August 20. 
Demonstrators protest on August 20. 
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder meets with Capt. Ron Johnson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol at a Ferguson restaurant on August 20. Holder came to Missouri to talk to community leaders and review the federal civil rights investigation into Brown's shooting. 
Protesters march through the streets of Ferguson on August 20. 
Police point out a demonstrator who has his arms raised before moving in to arrest him Tuesday, August 19. 
People watch from inside a restaurant as protesters rally August 19. 
Police arrest a demonstrator on August 19. 
Police charge into the media work area with weapons drawn as they try to control demonstrators on August 19. 
A protester speaks to a police officer on August 19. 
People on August 19 stand near a memorial where Brown was shot and killed. 
Protesters march on August 19. 
Police watch as protesters march August 19. 
A demonstrator is arrested on August 19. 
Police try to control protesters on Monday, August 18. 
Police lead a man away during a protest August 18. 
A demonstrator shouts during a protest on West Florissant Avenue, one of Ferguson's main streets, on August 18. 
Capt. Ron Johnson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol pulls his men back from aggressive protesters on August 18. 
Police arrest a demonstrator August 18 after peaceful protests gave way to angry confrontations with authorities. 
Law enforcement officers stand guard during a protest on West Florissant Avenue on August 18. 
A woman helps a man affected by tear gas August 18. The situation overnight deteriorated after a handful of protesters threw rocks, bottles and Molotov cocktails at police. Officers responded by firing stun grenades and tear gas canisters. 
Officers stand with weapons drawn during a protest on West Florissant Avenue on August 18. 
Musician Nelly, center, joins demonstrators in Ferguson on August 18. 
Demonstrators receive red roses as they protest August 18. 
Demonstrators march on August 18. 
The Rev. Jesse Jackson shakes hands with a police officer as he visits Ferguson's demonstration area on August 18. 
A protester picks up a tear gas canister on Sunday, August 17. 
Police wait to advance after using tear gas to disperse protesters August 17. 
Water gets poured into a woman's eyes after a tear gas attack by police on August 17. 
A man runs through clouds of tear gas on August 17. 
Protesters react as police fire tear gas at them August 17. 
Police advance through a cloud of tear gas on August 17. Most of the crowd had dispersed after a curfew went into effect at midnight, St. Louis County authorities said. 
People take cover from tear gas inside a McDonald's on August 17. 
A large group of police officers advance toward protesters on August 17. 
A man fights the effects of tear gas in Ferguson on August 17. 
Michael Brown Sr. and Lesley McSpadden, the parents of Michael Brown, attend a rally at Greater Grace Church in Ferguson on August 17. 
The Rev. Al Sharpton hugs McSpadden during the rally. 
Capt. Ron Johnson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol speaks at the rally. He had been appointed by the governor to take control of security operations. 
Demonstrators defy a curfew early on August 17. 
Police fire tear gas at demonstrators after curfew on August 17. 
A law enforcement officer aims his rifle August 17 after tear gas was fired to disperse a crowd. 
People scramble as police fire tear gas on August 17. 
Law enforcement officers check a building on August 17. 
People attend a protest after the midnight curfew on August 17. 
A law enforcement officer watches as tear gas is fired to disperse a crowd on August 17. 
Police stand guard before the midnight curfew on Saturday, August 16. 
People loot the Ferguson Market and Liquor store on August 16. Several businesses were looted as police held their positions nearby. 
Missouri State Highway Patrol officers listen to taunts from demonstrators during a protest on Friday, August 15. 
Demonstrators protest with their hands up on August 15. The "hands up" gesture has become a symbol in protests as Brown, according to eyewitnesses, was trying to surrender when he was shot multiple times. 
Police confront demonstrators on August 15. 
A demonstrator throws a tear gas canister back at police on August 15. 
Police confront demonstrators on August 15. 
Thousands of demonstrators march down a Ferguson street with members of the St. Louis County Police and the Missouri State Highway Patrol on Thursday, August 14. 
Demonstrators hold signs as traffic moves slowly past them on August 14. 
State Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson smiles at demonstrators on August 14. Johnson was appointed to lead security as state troopers took over after days of clashes between protesters and local police. 
The Rev. Traci Blackmon uses a megaphone to talk to a large group of demonstrators on August 14. 
A man picks up a flaming bottle and prepares to throw it as a line of police advance in the distance on Wednesday, August 13. 
Police stand in clouds of smoke as they clash with protesters on August 13. 
An Al-Jazeera television crew runs for cover as police fire tear gas at its position on August 13. Video and images on social media showed police later breaking down the journalists' gear. 
A protester runs from tear gas exploding around him on August 13. 
Police stand guard among demonstrators on August 13. 
Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson fields questions during a news conference on August 13. 
A small group of protesters block traffic in the street before police arrived on August 13. 
A protester throws a tear gas canister back toward police on August 13. 
Police detain a man on Tuesday, August 12. 
People congregate at the Greater St. Marks Family Church in St. Louis along with the family of Michael Brown and the Rev. Al Sharpton on August 12. 
Michael Brown Sr. stands alongside Sharpton, right, during a news conference in St. Louis on August 12. 
Demonstrators protest August 12 in Ferguson. 
A makeshift memorial sits in the middle of the street where Michael Brown was shot and killed. 
A woman tries to calm an emotional protester during a demonstration outside the headquarters of the Ferguson Police Department on August 11. 
Phaedra Parks, left, comforts Desuirea Harris, the grandmother of Michael Brown, during a news conference in Jennings, Missouri, on August 11. 
Police officers arrest a man who refused to leave when police cleared streets in Ferguson on August 11. 
A burned-out QuikTrip gas station smolders on August 11 after protesters looted and burned the Ferguson building the night before. 
Police officers and protesters confront each other on Saturday, August 9, the same day Michael Brown was shot and killed.
- The grand jury in Missouri is looking at several potential crimes, not just one
- The grand jury has been given permission to set its own schedule
- Grand jurors have until January to make a decision
Ferguson, Missouri (CNN) -- The "Weekend of Resistance" protests have ended, the prosecutor didn't step aside and the world awaits word from a grand jury determining whether charges should be brought against a white police officer who fatally shot unarmed African-American teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.
Protesters demanded criminal charges against Officer Darren Wilson, who some witnesses said shot and killed Brown while he was surrendering with his hands up. But police said Wilson shot Brown after the 18-year-old attacked him and tried to take his service gun in August.
Demonstrators also sought for St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch to recuse himself from overseeing the case because, they allege, he can't be impartial after his police officer father was killed on the job by a black man in 1964.
McCulloch rejected those demands. But he said he will not try the case if there is an indictment. Meanwhile, two assistant prosecuting attorneys have been assigned to the case.
Protests continue in Ferguson 
Pastor speaks about teen shot by police 
Protesters in Ferguson demand justice Here are key five things you'll want to know as the legal system moves forward:
1. What kinds of charges are the grand jury considering?
It's not just one potential crime.
The grand jury is deciding whether Wilson should be charged with any one of several possible crimes, including: first-degree murder, second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter, said Ed Magee, spokesman for the prosecuting attorney's office.
The grand jury can issue an indictment on any of those four charges, and it also has the option of adding a charge of armed criminal action, authorities said.
At the same time, the grand jury will receive the Missouri statutes for self-defense and the police use of deadly force.
2. How many votes are needed on a grand jury to issue an indictment?
There are 12 members on the Missouri grand jury (some other states have different numbers), and nine of the 12 must vote yes to indict someone.
The grand jury proceedings are conducted in secret. The same goes for the grand jurors' race or ethnicity.
3. Does the grand jury have a deadline?
Yes, the grand jury has until January 7 to make its decision. But the prosecutor's office says there could be a decision by mid-November.
4. How often does it meet?
Normally a grand jury in St. Louis County meets every Wednesday. But the grand jury has been extended for the Brown case so jurors have extra time to hear from a number of witnesses and to focus solely on this case.
In this scenario, the panel is allowed to meet on days when all 12 jurors can get together. Once agreed upon, the schedule is given to the prosecuting attorney's office.
5. Has the grand jury received all the evidence yet?
No, according to the prosecutor's office.
They have not heard from all the witnesses. Some witnesses are still reluctant to cooperate, the prosecutor's office said. Ultimately, witnesses can be compelled to appear to the grand jury by subpoena.
In past statements, McCulloch has promised a fair and thorough investigation.
"We will be presenting absolutely everything to this grand jury. Every statement that a witness made, every witness, every photograph, every piece of physical evidence. Absolutely nothing will be left out so the grand jury is making their decision based upon absolutely everything and we'll go from there," McCulloch told KTRS in August.
CNN's Sara Sidner and Sara Weisfeldt contributed from Missouri. Michael Martinez wrote from Los Angeles.
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