An aide to St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch is defending the timing of the grand jury announcement in the Ferguson case, even as some question whether the nighttime announcement fed the unrest.

McCulloch held a news conference at 8 p.m. Monday to disclose that the grand jury declined to indict Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson for killing 18-year-old Michael Brown.

The announcement led to violent protests.

Former two-term Ferguson Mayor Brian Fletcher says it should have been announced early in the day to give police more time to prepare for any nighttime unrest.

McCulloch spokesman Ed Magee says the timing allowed for coordination with law enforcement, gave schools time to get kids home safely, and gave businesses time to decide what was best for them.

(AP)