DAVID CRARY, AP National Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — For some Americans on opposite sides of a national debate, Michael Brown has become a symbol, epitomizing their polarized views on who bears the blame for the toll of young black men killed by police officers.

Brown was a gentle giant, in one version. A defiant troublemaker, in another.

Yet as more details of the 18-year-old’s life and death emerge, his legacy in the eyes of many is more nuanced, reflecting the ups and downs and challenges faced by many young Americans.

Brown, who was black and unarmed, was shot and killed Aug. 9 by white Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson. A grand jury declined to indict Wilson on Monday, sparking national protests.

The intense scrutiny of Brown’s life and the accompanying moral judgments have angered some of those following the case.