Revenge against someone you never met?
The white Mississippi teenager charged with deliberately running down a Black man tells police that he was looking for "revenge" against Blacks after allegedly being robbed—although the victim had nothing to do with the crime.
James C. Anderson died on the morning of June 26 in a Jackson motel parking lot. The 48-year-old Anderson had a long-term male partner of almost two decades and they were raising a daughter. Nineteen-year-old Daryl Dedmon has been charged with capital murder and a hate crime, reports the AP.
Dedmon’s lawyer Lee Agnew, didn’t immediately respond to a message. He has suggested it was an accident.
Authorities say seven white teenagers were partying in Rankin County the night of Anderson’s death when Dedmon suggested they go find a black man to "mess with." Detective Eric Smith testified at a hearing in July that Dedmon had been robbed in the weeks before Anderson’s death and that he was looking for “some sort of revenge,” though there was no evidence Anderson was responsible for the robbery.
Prosecutors say seven teenagers loaded up in two cars and headed for nearby Jackson where they found Anderson in a hotel parking lot on Ellis Avenue. Dedmon and another teen allegedly beat Anderson before Dedmon jumped in a green Ford F-250 and ran over the dazed man. Authorities say Dedmon also robbed Anderson, but they haven’t said what he took.
Surveillance video shows two carloads of teenagers driving into the parking lot. Several approached Anderson, who was beaten and robbed. The video shows Anderson being struck by a truck. Witnesses report one teenager yelled "white power" and the driver of the pickup shouted the n-word.
Dedmon, who was driving the pickup, faces capital murder and hate crime charges and is being held without bond. Police initially charged another teenager, John Aaron Rice, with murder. That charge has been reduced to simple assault.
Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith says it is "unlikely" that Dedmon will face the death penalty. Anderson's family opposes the death penalty.
Earlier this month, Anderson's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the seven white teenagers that police say were involved in the gruesome crime. Anderson's long-term partner is prevented by Mississippi law and the Defense of Marriage Act from joining the legal action. Anderson's partner is also prevented by Mississippi law from making end of life decisions.
You May Have Missed:
New Developments in Killing of Black Miss. Man
Slain MS Man's Partner CANNOT Join Lawsuit
Family of Mississippi Man Opposes Death Penalty
Death Penalty "Unlikely" in Hit and Run Killing
This is the first time, anywhere, where I've read that he was gay, and I've read quite a few stories about this. Thanks for getting the true information out there, Rod.
The last two sentences are yet another ugly reminder of how 2nd class we till are. smh
Posted by: zz | 25 September 2011 at 07:41
NO JUSTICE FOR THE VICTIMS...ANDERSON AND HIS PARTNER.
Posted by: BLACK | 25 September 2011 at 10:56