Brandon McClelland
Encyclopedia
Brandon "Big Boy" McClelland (born ca. 1984-85) was a black man whose death sparked racial controversy in the city of Paris, Texas
. On September 16, 2008, McClelland was killed after being run over by a vehicle and dragged beneath it. At first, police assumed he was the victim of an anonymous hit-and-run accident in which his large frame was dragged under the vehicle, perhaps as far as 70 feet.
groups. McClelland had apparently known Finley and Crostley since they were all children and the two white men and McClelland were considered to be friends and had been working together earlier that evening hanging sheetrock.
By the time the police impounded the truck allegedly used, there were signs that it already had been washed, but despite this, police found blood and other physical evidence on the undercarriage of the truck and the blood was identified as belonging to McClelland. The police affidavit for Finley's arrest alleged that McClelland was walking in front of the truck when Finley ran him down, and dragged him at least 40 ft until his body popped out from underneath the chassis. Finley's estranged wife and another of his friends said the defendants told them that, after an argument about who was sober enough to drive, McClelland got out, and Finley bumped him with the truck until knocking him over, and then drove over him and dragged his body under the truck. The two men were charged with killing McClelland and both subsequently pleaded "not guilty." The prosecutor
cited a lack of evidence in dropping murder charges in June, 2009 and the two men were released.
to investigate the handling of this case,” Brenda Cherry, president of the local civil rights organization Concerned Citizens for Racial Equality, said “We know it was not investigated properly, and we want an agency outside of Texas to come in and investigate this.”
Local activists in Paris and others throughout the nation have been dismayed by the dismissal of charges, and would like to see the incident charged as a hate crime
. The victim's mother, Jacqueline McClelland, said, "At the crime scene, it looked like these boys went back and poured beer on my son’s body. Two beer cans were lying out there, but the police didn’t even pick them up, they just left evidence out there. They won’t even consider the racial issues. That’s the way it is in Paris." The simmering racial tensions have been inflamed by outside activists according to some residents. A protest at the courthouse in November, 2008, featured members of the New Black Panther Party, the Nation of Islam
, and the Concerned Citizens for Racial Equality on one side, while white hecklers, waving the Bible
gathered on the other side. Brandon McClelland's death has been covered by award winning journalist Howard Witt of The Chicago Tribune, Newsweek
, The New York Times
, and numerous other national media agencies.
Paris, Texas
Paris, Texas is a city located northeast of the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex in Lamar County, Texas, in the United States. It is situated in Northeast Texas at the western edge of the Piney Woods. Physiographically, these regions are part of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. In 1900, 9,358 people lived...
. On September 16, 2008, McClelland was killed after being run over by a vehicle and dragged beneath it. At first, police assumed he was the victim of an anonymous hit-and-run accident in which his large frame was dragged under the vehicle, perhaps as far as 70 feet.
Investigation and trial
Further investigation revealed that McClelland was last seen alive with two white men, Paris, Texas, residents Shannon Finley and Charles Ryan Crostley, both of whom had long criminal histories with Finley being accused by the victims' family of having ties to white supremacistWhite supremacy
White supremacy is the belief, and promotion of the belief, that white people are superior to people of other racial backgrounds. The term is sometimes used specifically to describe a political ideology that advocates the social and political dominance by whites.White supremacy, as with racial...
groups. McClelland had apparently known Finley and Crostley since they were all children and the two white men and McClelland were considered to be friends and had been working together earlier that evening hanging sheetrock.
By the time the police impounded the truck allegedly used, there were signs that it already had been washed, but despite this, police found blood and other physical evidence on the undercarriage of the truck and the blood was identified as belonging to McClelland. The police affidavit for Finley's arrest alleged that McClelland was walking in front of the truck when Finley ran him down, and dragged him at least 40 ft until his body popped out from underneath the chassis. Finley's estranged wife and another of his friends said the defendants told them that, after an argument about who was sober enough to drive, McClelland got out, and Finley bumped him with the truck until knocking him over, and then drove over him and dragged his body under the truck. The two men were charged with killing McClelland and both subsequently pleaded "not guilty." The prosecutor
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
cited a lack of evidence in dropping murder charges in June, 2009 and the two men were released.
Aftermath of trial
“Justice has not been served for Brandon,” Jacqueline McClelland said shortly after the release of Finley and Crostley. “Until I get some justice for my son, it is not over by a long shot.” “We plan to get U.S. Attorney General Eric HolderEric Holder
Eric Himpton Holder, Jr. is the 82nd and current Attorney General of the United States and the first African American to hold the position, serving under President Barack Obama....
to investigate the handling of this case,” Brenda Cherry, president of the local civil rights organization Concerned Citizens for Racial Equality, said “We know it was not investigated properly, and we want an agency outside of Texas to come in and investigate this.”
Local activists in Paris and others throughout the nation have been dismayed by the dismissal of charges, and would like to see the incident charged as a hate crime
Hate crime
In crime and law, hate crimes occur when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her perceived membership in a certain social group, usually defined by racial group, religion, sexual orientation, disability, class, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, gender identity, social status or...
. The victim's mother, Jacqueline McClelland, said, "At the crime scene, it looked like these boys went back and poured beer on my son’s body. Two beer cans were lying out there, but the police didn’t even pick them up, they just left evidence out there. They won’t even consider the racial issues. That’s the way it is in Paris." The simmering racial tensions have been inflamed by outside activists according to some residents. A protest at the courthouse in November, 2008, featured members of the New Black Panther Party, the Nation of Islam
Nation of Islam
The Nation of Islam is a mainly African-American new religious movement founded in Detroit, Michigan by Wallace D. Fard Muhammad in July 1930 to improve the spiritual, mental, social, and economic condition of African-Americans in the United States of America. The movement teaches black pride and...
, and the Concerned Citizens for Racial Equality on one side, while white hecklers, waving the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
gathered on the other side. Brandon McClelland's death has been covered by award winning journalist Howard Witt of The Chicago Tribune, Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, and numerous other national media agencies.