The policeman who shot dead a black teenager in St Louis has revealed he is under 24-hour guard and 'can't go out' at this 'stressful time' in his first comments since the killing. Darren Wilson text messaged a close friend to say that he can't leave protective custody because he would be immediately recognized - making him and his young child a target. In his messages Wilson, 28, also thanked for the support of his friends which he said was 'really keeping me going'. He had texted Jake Shepard, his friend of 14 years, who showed the messages to MailOnline because he wanted the public to get a more accurate picture of the friend he described as always having 'pure intentions'.
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Jake Shepard, a friend of 14 years, showed MailOnline texts from Wilson
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Wilson, who shot dead Michael Brown, sparking seven nights of unrest, 'can't go out' and thanked him for support during 'stressful time'
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Shepard said he believes Wilson, who has a young child, is still in the St Louis area
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He feels bad that now Brown's and Wilson's lives are both 'now over'
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Shepard that while Brown's family has the support of the 'whole nation'... 'Darren doesn't get that'
Support: Shepard provided MailOnline with this photograph of him playing hockey, which he did with Wilson, said @placeholder 'doesn't deserve' to be remembered negatively for life as a killer cop
Troubled: Shepard said that @placeholder's mother died when he was 16 and his biological father lives out of state - but added that Wilson (pictured in his 2002 yearbook) never liked to talk about his hardships