The grand jury has allegedly reached a verdict on whether to indict Darren Wilson, the Ferguson, Mo., police officer who fatally shot unarmed teenager Michael Brown, media outlets reported citing unidentified sources.
The announcement is expected to be made at 9 p.m. Monday, the family's lawyer, Benjamin Crump, told Fox News.
Although the Associated Press was not able to confirm the reports Monday afternoon, unidentified U.S. and local law enforcement officials, cited by CNN, said the St. Louis County prosecutor would announce a decision on Monday.
In addition, The Washington Post, citing sources close to the process, said both the prosecutor's and Missouri governor's offices were preparing for press conferences likely to come later Monday. It was not clear what the announcement would be.
Since the decision is expected to potentially trigger further civil unrest in the Ferguson community, dozens of clergy members are preparing to offer their churches as safe spaces, or sanctuaries, for people to escape the violent demonstrations, the Rev. Teresa Danieley, pastor of St. John's Tower Grove, said.
Organizations such as the Don't Shoot Coalition, which was formed after the death of Brown, and Metropolitan Congregations United, a group of interdenominational, multiracial congregations from around the region, are in the process of creating a list of churches that are volunteering the use of their space, according to Religious News Service.
Many of these churches, which will be packed with supplies such as food, water and phone chargers, will also have medics, legal observers and counselors on hand to function as police-free zones during protests.
For three months, seven men and five women have deliberated over evidence to make a decision on whether to charge Wilson for the Aug. 9 shooting that sparked weeks of violent protests across the Ferguson community and drew national attention, The Washington Times reported.
Gov. Jay Nixon planned to meet Monday afternoon with religious leaders, members of the clergy said. Benjamin Crump, a lawyer for the Brown family, told MSNBC that the family had not been notified of any grand jury decision. "No officials been in communication with this family," he said.
He added that the family was "praying for an indictment, and they're trying to put their faith in the justice system."
Ahead of the grand jury decision, Nixon has declared a state of emergency and authorized the state's National Guard to support police in case of violence.
The order, in effect for 30 days, instructs the St. Louis County Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the St. Louis Metro Police to work together in policing violent protests that might erupt after a decision is announced, Breitbart reported.
Meanwhile, a supposed police officer in the Ferguson area spoke to "St. Louis Coptalk" forum about what he expects to happen in Ferguson in the coming weeks, urging community members to "protect" their families with firearms, Vocativ reported, adding that the man's identity as a police officer could not be independently confirmed.
"If you do not have a gun, get one and get one soon. We will not be able to protect you or your family," the man, who posted under the name "A Concerned Cop," wrote. "It will be your responsibility to protect them. Our gutless commanders and politicians have neutered us. I'm serious, get a gun, get more than one, and keep one with you at all times."
This warning comes after the FBI recently issued an intelligence bulletin stating that a grand jury's decision "will likely be exploited by some individuals to justify threats and attacks against law enforcement and critical infrastructure."
"This also poses a threat to those civilians engaged in lawful or otherwise constitutionally protected activities," the bulletin said.
Additionally, schools, businesses and law enforcement are also preparing safety procedures ahead of another round of unrest, possibly worse than in August, when weeks of protests followed the shooting of Brown, BBC News reported.
Although many have requested an advance notice of the grand jury announcement, officials have stated that no such notice will be provided ahead of its time, KMOV.com reported.
