Family says race a factor in Charlotte girl's shooting death
Posted on: 8:46 am, April 19, 2012, by Ryan Sullivan
Jasmine Thar (Photos courtesy: WSOC-TV)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The family of a teenage girl who was fatally shot by a neighbor four months ago in Charlotte believes the shooting may have been racially motivated.
Jasmine Thar, 16, was shot and killed while visiting family in Chadbourn, N.C., during the Christmas holiday.
The shooter, a neighbor of the family Thar was visiting, claims his high-powered rifle accidentally fired when he was taking it out of its case, according to WSOC-TV.
The bullet killed Jasmine and also wounded two of her relatives.
The neighbor has not been charged. WSOC reports the family is concerned the shooting may have been racially motivated after police found a Confederate flag and Nazi memorabilia in the shooter's bedroom.
They have turned to civil rights activist John Barnette in search of answers. "We feel like something should be put in place whether it's manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter — whatever charge this individual needs to get," Barnette told the station.
WSOC reports the FBI's Civil Rights Unit is now probing the incident.
The agency reportedly sent a letter to Thar's mother which stated Jasmine was "possibly the victim of a crime." "I'm glad we have this letter because this in so many ways gives us the right idea that we are on the right page," Barnette said.
Barnette said he and Thar's parents intend on meeting with the district attorney, the SBI, and Chadbourn police next week to see if charges will be filed. "We don't know if he was aiming or not, but we need to put enough pressure on the investigation to make sure we get some closure for this particular mother who has lost a daughter," Barnette said.
Source: WSOCTV.com
http://myfox8.com/2012/04/19/family-says-race-a-factor-in-charlotte-girls-shooting-death/
WLOS ABC 13 News
Mom of Charlotte teen says killing was hate crime
April 21, 2012 15:39 GMT
%reldate(2012-04-21T15:34:55
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The mother of a teenager killed four months ago in a shooting in Columbus County is urging prosecutors to press charges.
Carletta McNeil held a news conference Friday in Charlotte, telling reporters her 16-year-old daughter was killed in a racially-motivated crime.
Authorities say Jasmine Thar was visiting her godmother and a friend in Chadbourn when all three were shot by a single bullet from a rifle, killing the teen.
The man who fired the rifle says he was taking the gun from its case and it fired without him pulling the trigger.
The FBI's civil rights unit is investigating the shooting. The victim's family says a local prosecutor told them they turned the case over to the FBI because of evidence found in the shooter's home.
http://www.wlos.com/template/inews_wire/wires.regional.nc/2443351d-www.wlos.com.shtml
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/04/20/3187720/victims-mom-seeks-charges.html
Posted on: 8:46 am, April 19, 2012, by Ryan Sullivan
Jasmine Thar (Photos courtesy: WSOC-TV)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The family of a teenage girl who was fatally shot by a neighbor four months ago in Charlotte believes the shooting may have been racially motivated.
Jasmine Thar, 16, was shot and killed while visiting family in Chadbourn, N.C., during the Christmas holiday.
The shooter, a neighbor of the family Thar was visiting, claims his high-powered rifle accidentally fired when he was taking it out of its case, according to WSOC-TV.
The bullet killed Jasmine and also wounded two of her relatives.
The neighbor has not been charged. WSOC reports the family is concerned the shooting may have been racially motivated after police found a Confederate flag and Nazi memorabilia in the shooter's bedroom.
They have turned to civil rights activist John Barnette in search of answers. "We feel like something should be put in place whether it's manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter — whatever charge this individual needs to get," Barnette told the station.
WSOC reports the FBI's Civil Rights Unit is now probing the incident.
The agency reportedly sent a letter to Thar's mother which stated Jasmine was "possibly the victim of a crime." "I'm glad we have this letter because this in so many ways gives us the right idea that we are on the right page," Barnette said.
Barnette said he and Thar's parents intend on meeting with the district attorney, the SBI, and Chadbourn police next week to see if charges will be filed. "We don't know if he was aiming or not, but we need to put enough pressure on the investigation to make sure we get some closure for this particular mother who has lost a daughter," Barnette said.
Source: WSOCTV.com
http://myfox8.com/2012/04/19/family-says-race-a-factor-in-charlotte-girls-shooting-death/
WLOS ABC 13 News
Mom of Charlotte teen says killing was hate crime
April 21, 2012 15:39 GMT
%reldate(2012-04-21T15:34:55
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The mother of a teenager killed four months ago in a shooting in Columbus County is urging prosecutors to press charges.
Carletta McNeil held a news conference Friday in Charlotte, telling reporters her 16-year-old daughter was killed in a racially-motivated crime.
Authorities say Jasmine Thar was visiting her godmother and a friend in Chadbourn when all three were shot by a single bullet from a rifle, killing the teen.
The man who fired the rifle says he was taking the gun from its case and it fired without him pulling the trigger.
The FBI's civil rights unit is investigating the shooting. The victim's family says a local prosecutor told them they turned the case over to the FBI because of evidence found in the shooter's home.
http://www.wlos.com/template/inews_wire/wires.regional.nc/2443351d-www.wlos.com.shtml
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/04/20/3187720/victims-mom-seeks-charges.html
