HENDERSON: The horrific death of a 21-year-old black man, Javion Magee, raised huge outcry and outrage after he was discovered hanging from a tree in Henderson, located in North Carolina, United States (US).
The incident came to light through video-sharing social media platform TikTok when a user uploaded the story, while urging the public to seek justice. The user is reportedly related to the victim.
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Javion Magee was a truck driver who hailed from Chicago. He was found in a remote area close to his truck, with a rope around his neck. The local law enforcement authorities have classified his death as a suicide.
However, his family insists that there is something else at play. According to the TikTok user, law enforcers claimed that Magee had bought the rope from a nearby supermarket shortly before his death.
The TikTok user rejected the police’s assertions, stating that “we clearly don’t accept that, and we are asking for your assistance in spreading his story”.
The horrific case ignited a furious debate online, with many linking it to a mob lynching. The town, Henderson, has a sketchy, brutal past in its treatment of the US black community.
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Historically, a lot of black people were lynched by mobs of angered white people with not much evidence. A mere hearsay saw a lot of innocent men brutally lynched by an angered mob.
Meanwhile, the county sheriff was quick to dispel rumours of any lynching. He stated the Javion Magee was not found hanging or swinging from a tree. The sheriff said the rope was not braided into a noose.
He also firmly stated that there was no proof of foul play. The sheriff did admit that an investigation was on-going.
Meanwhile, Magee’s family are frustrated with the response from the local law enforcement. They stated their desire to travel to North Caroline to demand more information.
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The family want a more detailed, comprehensive investigation in the events leading up to Magee’s death.
Meanwhile, the sheriff confirmed that the State Bureau of Investigation was now involved and an autopsy was being performed on the victims body.