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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/17/baton-rouge-louisiana-killing-black-men-racial-motive
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| 'Strong possibility' of racial motivation in Baton Rouge killings, police say | 'Strong possibility' of racial motivation in Baton Rouge killings, police say |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The killings of two black men in Baton Rouge last week were likely racially motivated, police said on Sunday, with a 23-year-old white man in custody. In both shootings the gunman fired from his car then walked up to the victims as they were lying on the ground and fired again multiple times. | The killings of two black men in Baton Rouge last week were likely racially motivated, police said on Sunday, with a 23-year-old white man in custody. In both shootings the gunman fired from his car then walked up to the victims as they were lying on the ground and fired again multiple times. |
| The suspect, Kenneth Gleason, was being held on drug charges. Authorities did not immediately have enough evidence to arrest him on charges related to the killings but the investigation was ongoing, Baton Rouge sergeant L’Jean McKneely said. | The suspect, Kenneth Gleason, was being held on drug charges. Authorities did not immediately have enough evidence to arrest him on charges related to the killings but the investigation was ongoing, Baton Rouge sergeant L’Jean McKneely said. |
| “The victims were ... ambushed,” McKneely said. “There is a strong possibility that it could be racially motivated.” | “The victims were ... ambushed,” McKneely said. “There is a strong possibility that it could be racially motivated.” |
| McKneely said shell casings from the shootings linked the two shootings and a car belonging to Gleason fit the description of the vehicle used in the killings. He said authorities had collected other circumstantial evidence but he would not say what it was. | McKneely said shell casings from the shootings linked the two shootings and a car belonging to Gleason fit the description of the vehicle used in the killings. He said authorities had collected other circumstantial evidence but he would not say what it was. |
| Neither victim had any prior relationship with Gleason. It was not immediately clear if Gleason had an attorney or when his first court appearance would be. | Neither victim had any prior relationship with Gleason. It was not immediately clear if Gleason had an attorney or when his first court appearance would be. |
| The shootings happened about five miles from each other. The first occurred on Tuesday night when 59-year-old Bruce Cofield, who was homeless, was shot dead. The second happened on Thursday night when 49-year-old Donald Smart was shot while walking to his job as a dishwasher at a café popular with students from Louisiana State University (LSU), Mckneely said. | The shootings happened about five miles from each other. The first occurred on Tuesday night when 59-year-old Bruce Cofield, who was homeless, was shot dead. The second happened on Thursday night when 49-year-old Donald Smart was shot while walking to his job as a dishwasher at a café popular with students from Louisiana State University (LSU), Mckneely said. |
| Smart’s aunt, Mary Smart, said: “I’m feeling down and depressed. My nephew, I love him, and he was on his way to work and that makes it so sad. He was always smiling and hugging everybody. A lot of people knew him.” | Smart’s aunt, Mary Smart, said: “I’m feeling down and depressed. My nephew, I love him, and he was on his way to work and that makes it so sad. He was always smiling and hugging everybody. A lot of people knew him.” |
| Smart had a son and two daughters, she said. She declined to comment on police suggestions that her nephew might have been shot because of the color of his skin. | Smart had a son and two daughters, she said. She declined to comment on police suggestions that her nephew might have been shot because of the color of his skin. |
| “I cannot say,” she said. “Only God knows.” | “I cannot say,” she said. “Only God knows.” |
| No one answered the door at Gleason’s house in a quiet neighborhood of mostly ranch-style homes with well-kept lawns, about 10 miles from the sites of the shootings. | No one answered the door at Gleason’s house in a quiet neighborhood of mostly ranch-style homes with well-kept lawns, about 10 miles from the sites of the shootings. |
| “He looks like any clean-cut American kid,” said neighbor Nancy Reynolds, who said she didn’t know Gleason or his family. She said it was “hard to believe this sort of thing is still happening”. | “He looks like any clean-cut American kid,” said neighbor Nancy Reynolds, who said she didn’t know Gleason or his family. She said it was “hard to believe this sort of thing is still happening”. |
| Two of Gleason’s cousins said they could not believe he had anything to do with the killings. “He had no problems with any person,” said Garrett Sing, 37. “He had black friends, white friends, Asian friends. He made friends with anyone.” | Two of Gleason’s cousins said they could not believe he had anything to do with the killings. “He had no problems with any person,” said Garrett Sing, 37. “He had black friends, white friends, Asian friends. He made friends with anyone.” |
| Another cousin, 33-year-old Barton Sing, described Gleason as a “good kid” and recalled how his cousin recently asked him to teach him how to bow hunt. | Another cousin, 33-year-old Barton Sing, described Gleason as a “good kid” and recalled how his cousin recently asked him to teach him how to bow hunt. |
| “He said he never liked guns. That’s why he wanted to get into archery,” Sing said. “He’s the last person I’d think to do something like this.” | “He said he never liked guns. That’s why he wanted to get into archery,” Sing said. “He’s the last person I’d think to do something like this.” |
| Gleason didn’t appear to have any active social media profiles. A spokesman at LSU said a student by that name attended the university from the fall of 2013 to the fall of 2014 before withdrawing. He had transferred to LSU from Baton Rouge Community College, the spokesman, Ernie Ballard, said. | Gleason didn’t appear to have any active social media profiles. A spokesman at LSU said a student by that name attended the university from the fall of 2013 to the fall of 2014 before withdrawing. He had transferred to LSU from Baton Rouge Community College, the spokesman, Ernie Ballard, said. |
| East Baton Rouge district attorney Hillar Moore said a judge could issue a ruling on bond for Gleason later on Sunday. Moore would not comment on what led investigators to him. “We’re actively investigating right now,” Moore said. | East Baton Rouge district attorney Hillar Moore said a judge could issue a ruling on bond for Gleason later on Sunday. Moore would not comment on what led investigators to him. “We’re actively investigating right now,” Moore said. |
| Detectives searched Gleason’s home on Saturday and found 9g of marijuana and vials of human growth hormone, according to a police document. After Gleason was read his Miranda rights, he claimed ownership of the drugs, the document said. | Detectives searched Gleason’s home on Saturday and found 9g of marijuana and vials of human growth hormone, according to a police document. After Gleason was read his Miranda rights, he claimed ownership of the drugs, the document said. |
| Louisiana’s capital, a city of 229,000, is known for its championship college football team. A year ago, racial tensions roiled the city when a black man, Alton Sterling, was shot dead by white police officers outside of a convenience store. About two weeks later, a black gunman targeted police in an ambush, killing three officers and wounding three before he was shot dead. The city is about 55% black and 40% white. | Louisiana’s capital, a city of 229,000, is known for its championship college football team. A year ago, racial tensions roiled the city when a black man, Alton Sterling, was shot dead by white police officers outside of a convenience store. About two weeks later, a black gunman targeted police in an ambush, killing three officers and wounding three before he was shot dead. The city is about 55% black and 40% white. |
| Smart consistently showed up for his overnight shift as a dishwasher at Louie’s Cafe in a spotless white T-shirt and bright white Nike tennis shoes, the Advocate newspaper reported. | Smart consistently showed up for his overnight shift as a dishwasher at Louie’s Cafe in a spotless white T-shirt and bright white Nike tennis shoes, the Advocate newspaper reported. |
| “I’ve seen 26 years of folks washing dishes in a busy diner and this guy is untouchable,” Louie’s general manager, Fred Simonson, was quoted as saying. “When you have an employee like Donald, he’s the type of person who’s going to make the person next to him better.” | “I’ve seen 26 years of folks washing dishes in a busy diner and this guy is untouchable,” Louie’s general manager, Fred Simonson, was quoted as saying. “When you have an employee like Donald, he’s the type of person who’s going to make the person next to him better.” |
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