Outrage at Suspect Released on Bail
Assault Only Stopped After Police Fired Taser
After a suspect accused of killing his son in the United States was released on bail, the victim's father, unable to contain his anger, assaulted him. Locally, many people say they understand the father's feelings, while a debate continues over private revenge versus the rule of law.
In the United States, after a suspect accused of killing a son was released on bail, an enraged father, unable to contain his anger, assaulted him. The Sun
According to foreign media outlets including The Sun on the 23rd (local time), an assault took place in the hallway of the Mecklenburg County Courthouse in Charlotte, North Carolina. Shahim Snipe (47) suddenly rushed at Marion McKnight (21), who was leaving the courtroom, and attacked him with his fists and feet.
In footage from the scene, Snipe can be seen knocking McKnight to the ground and then repeatedly kicking and punching him. Police immediately tried to intervene, but the situation did not calm down easily, and he only stopped the assault after being hit with a police Taser.
McKnight suffered serious injuries and was transported to a hospital, while Snipe was arrested on charges of assault inflicting serious bodily injury. He was later released after posting a bail of about 1,000 dollars.
Shooting spree on three people
McKnight is accused of opening fire near a park in Charlotte last May and shooting three people. In this incident, Snipe's then 16-year-old son, Jamarriya Dixon, was shot and taken to a hospital, but he died a few days later.
McKnight was subsequently indicted on charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder, but in November last year he was released after posting a bail of about 100,000 dollars (around 140 million won) and had been awaiting trial while wearing an electronic monitoring device.
On the day of the assault, the court was scheduled to hold a hearing to review whether to revoke McKnight's bail and take him back into custody. During this process, the victim's family and the suspect ended up in the same space, which reportedly led to the assault.
Bereaved family: "No father could have held back"
The bereaved family say they understand Snipe's actions. In an interview with one outlet, Dixon's aunt said, "He only did what a father would do," adding, "We are still in deep sorrow, and this wound will never heal for the rest of our lives."
Dixon's mother also said, "After watching the video of the incident, I truly laughed for the first time since my son passed away," revealing the depth of the family's sense of loss. Dixon was known as a student who played on the school football team and also had excellent grades. The family said, "He was always gentle and loving toward his parents," expressing their grief.
"I understand" vs. "Violence is unacceptable in any situation"
As the video of the incident spread through social media, most online users expressed empathy for Snipe's actions, commenting, "Any father who lost a son would have done the same," "If the law fails to uphold justice, individuals have no other choice but to step in," and "The fact that he did not kill him shows restraint."
However, some responded, "We understand the grief, but violence cannot be justified for any reason," and "Private revenge can lead to further violence."
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