Young black men are still dying suspicious deaths in the South.
Via ABC Local News
The family of a Lowndes High School student who died at school tonight is demanding a federal investigation.
Today, investigators officially ruled 17-year old Kendrick Johnson’s death an accident.
That announcement came just an hour before friends, family and civil rights activists marched outside Lowndes High School demanding justice.
The family believes Johnson was murdered. His body was found inside a rolled-up cheerleading mat in the old Lowndes High School gym January 11th. Investigators believe he was in the gym alone, reached into the mat to get something he dropped, and got stuck. Today’s final autopsy report ruled the death an accident as a result of positional asphyxia.
“I’m frustrated that my nephew was supposedly found in a mat, when that doesn’t make sense,” said Johnson’s Aunt, Stacy Roe.
Civil Rights activists with Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network and The United Justice League led the rally, calling for a federal investigation.
“We want an independent investigation, lets just say by an agency with higher credentials than Lowndes County. There’s been a number of what we feel are inconsistencies, are mishandlings, and for that very reason is why we want another set of eyes,” said Atlanta’s National Action Network Chapter President, Marcus Coleman.
The family says they expected the autopsy report would rule the death as an accident. And they plan to keep rallying until federal investigators step in.
“When you have the body that’s been moved, when you have the Coroner’s Office being notified hours later, when you have the misplacement of his clothing, which could be a direct indicator of any evidence needed to move forward,” said Coleman.
Lowndes County Sheriff’s officials say the statements of his body being moved and his clothes being misplaced are untrue. But Coroner Bill Waston has voiced his anger that he wasn’t notified until hours after Johnson’s body was discovered. The Sheriff’s office says the investigation still remains open.
The Johnson Family organized another rally Saturday at Serenity Christian Church in Valdosta at 5:00 p.m. Reverend Al Sharpton is scheduled to speak
* * * * *
According to rumors: It wasn't an accident. He got into a fight with a police officer son. They came back and retaliated and beat the kid. It's all a cover up with the "blue code of silence". The police are clearly hiding the real information and facts.
Ever see what asphyxiation does in the case of hanging? Looks very similar.
ReplyDelete