Ferguson cop Darren Wilson: I had to shoot him

(CNN) -- Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson told ABC's George Stephanopoulos that he was sorry for the loss of life when he shot unarmed teen Michael Brown in August but that his conscience is clear because he was simply doing his job.

The interview, conducted Tuesday and scheduled to air Tuesday night, is the first by Wilson, who had not been seen in public since the Aug. 9 shooting.

The death of Brown sparked violent demonstrations in the days after the shooting and again on Monday night, when it was announced that a Missouri grand jury would not charge Wilson.



Stephanopoulos previewed the interview on-air Tuesday, saying that Wilson told him that Brown reached into his patrol car, grabbed for his weapon and that he feared for his life.

Wilson told ABC News that Brown later charged at him and did not raise his hands in surrender, forcing Wilson to keep shooting, according to Stephanopoulos.

In the hour-long interview, Wilson said he could not have done anything differently and that he simply followed his training as a police officer.

Asked if the incident would have turned out differently if Michael Brown were white, Wilson said no, according to Stephanopoulos.

What's next for Wilson?

Wilson, 28, spent six years with the Ferguson police department before being placed on administrative leave following the shooting. Wilson worked for two years at another police department before that.

Wilson remains on leave, pending the outcome of an internal investigation, Ferguson Mayor James Knowles told reporters Tuesday.

"No decision has been made," Knowles said. "His current employment status has not changed."

Last week, people close to the talks told CNN that the officer was in the final stages of negotiations with city officials to resign from the police department.

Wilson has told associates he would resign as a way to help ease pressure and protect his fellow officers.

The United States Justice Department is also investigating whether Wilson violated Brown's civil rights.

In newly released transcripts of testimony that the grand jury heard while considering whether to bring charges in Brown's death, Wilson told the jurors that he had never fired his gun on duty before that day.

Wilson told the grand jury his original goal was to arrest Brown, after identifying him as a possible suspect in a shop theft.

Wilson fired 12 shots, according to the grand jury proceedings.

The officer told the St. Louis County grand jury that two shots were fired during a struggle at his police vehicle and that he then fired three bursts of gunfire as he chased and later backed away from Brown. He testified that his Sig Sauer .40-caliber gun held a maximum of 13 bullets.