Missouri gov briefs Obama on Ferguson

President Obama spoke Friday with Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon and Justice Department officials ahead of an expected grand jury decision in the Ferguson police shooting of an unarmed black teenager.

During the call, Nixon discussed his work to ease unrest in the St. Louis suburb and Obama emphasized the administration’s commitment to provide assistance, according a White House pool report.

{mosads}The death of 18-year-old Michael Brown ignited a series of protests among residents of Ferguson, putting the suburb in the national spotlight over police brutality and race. In the next few weeks, a grand jury will decide whether to indict police officer, Darren Wilson, who fatally shot Brown in August.

Obama will continue to be briefed on the situation from his team, including outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder and White House Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett.