Black Man Found Hanging From A Tree In New York, Police Call It Suicide
On June 11, a Black man was found hanging dead from a tree in Albany, New York. While police have labeled it a suicide, locals and people identifying themselves as family members of the man are skeptical.
According to the Times Union, a call was made at around 8 a.m. last Wednesday, and officers found a body hanging from a tree on Westerlo Street. Videos circulated on social media showing the body, but were quickly taken down. When a Black man is hanging from a tree, the first thought is lynching, given America's sordid history with the practice, but local police were quick to push back against that narrative
'At this time, based upon preliminary investigation, the circumstances appear to be consistent with suicide and no evidence to suggest that the incident is criminal in nature,' a statement from Albany police reads.
Locals have taken to social media and TikTok to express their disbelief at how little coverage the hanging has received in the local media. There's been skepticism over it being a cut-and-dry suicide given how little information has been released about the incident. In fact, most reporting on the case has come from locals doing their own digging into what happened.
While police have not released the name of the man, social media posts and a GoFundMe page seem to point to the deceased being one Earl Smith.
There are few confirmed, concrete details about the case, and we don't want to get into baseless speculation, but the lack of coverage and the alleged refusal to review camera footage is a bit suspect. Committing a crime in 2025 is somewhat foolish because there are cameras all over every city. I learned this during the Jonathan Majors trial when footage was released showing the assault and chase from several different camera angles throughout the city. It shouldn't be hard to see exactly what led to this man's death.
Looking at comments on TikTok's show that several Albany residents have expressed disbelief that the story hasn't received more coverage. 'I work in Albany and live in the area and haven't heard a single thing about this until now. How is nobody saying anything about it?,' wrote one commenter.
America loves to espouse how racism doesn't exist anymore and that lynchings are a thing of the past, yet Sundown Towns still exist. Whether it's literally hanging or alleged extrajudicial killings by the police, lynching hasn't gone away. The attitudes that encourage this violence against Black people have only become more and more normalized. In fact, they run rampant within the current presidential administration.
From the ongoing attacks on DEI, Stephen Miller's entire existence, to the Pentagon's Chief Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson making several social media posts parroting the 'Great Replacement theory,' the most dangerous and insidious ideas of white supremacy are currently influencing the laws and policy that govern the country. Hate groups have gone down in America because the ideas they espouse have gone mainstream.
In recent years, there have been several suspicious hangings of Black people that police label suicide, but have left family members questioning whether or not they were lynchings. Last year, Javion Magee was found hanging from a tree in North Carolina, and his deathwas labeled a suicide by police after video footage showed him buying a utility rope in a local Walmart. His family hired a private investigator and an independent medical examiner to see if their findings match the official police report.
In 2020, a video went viral showing four white men attempting to lynch Vauhxx Booker during a July 4 celebration in Lake Monroe. Charges would be filed against the men, as well as Booker himself. The charges against all involved were dropped in 2022 after Booker and the two white men also charged in the case went through a restorative justice process.
While we still don't know for certain what exactly led to this man's hanging in Albany, recent events have shown it's more than understandable why residents and the alleged family members are questioning whether or not it was a lynching.
SEE ALSO:
What Happened To Javion Magee?
Dennoriss Richardson's Wife Says 'He Didn't Kill Himself'
SEE ALSO
Black Man Found Hanging From A Tree In New York, Police Call It Suicide was originally published on newsone.com
Black America Web Featured Video
CLOSE
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Legendary Surfer's Son Breathing on His Own After Being ‘Pinned' Between 2 Cars in Accident That Left Him with ‘Unthinkable Injuries'
Dakota Briley, son of legendary surfer Shawn Briley, was pinned between two vehicles and suffered multiple injuries when he was struck by a car on Saturday, June 14, in Hawaii A GoFundMe update stated that Dakota is continuing to make progress in his recovery While he doesn't have feeling in his lower body, Dakota is now breathing on his own and has opened his eyesThe family of Dakota Briley, the son of famed Pipeline surfer Shawn Briley, provided a hopeful update on their loved one's condition after he was hit by a car on the side of a highway in Hawaii and hospitalized last month. "We can do nothing else but remain optimistic and hopeful, and full of prayer that this will heal, and he will be able to surf again," Dakota's sister Erin Lau said in a Tuesday, July 1, interview with ABC affiliate KGTV. The incident occurred on June 14, on Kamehameha Highway on Oahu's North Shore, where Dakota, 20, was trapped between two vehicles and suffered multiple injuries, said the organizer of a GoFundMe that has already raised nearly $250,000 to support Dakota's recovery. Dakota had returned home for summer break from Point Loma Nazarene University when he was struck, KGTV reported. Lau said her brother was about to give a surf lesson on the North Shore of Oahu when the tragedy happened. 'He was actually on the side of the road, waxing a board for his next surf lesson when a car veered across the opposite lane and hit him on the side of the road, pinning him to the other vehicle," Lau told the outlet. KGTV reported that an 18-year-old was operating the vehicle involved in the incident and is not facing charges. PEOPLE has contacted the Honolulu Police Department for information. The GoFundMe organizers wrote on the fundraiser description that Dakota sustained 'multiple fractures in his legs, pelvis, ribs, and skull. His spine has also endured unthinkable injuries' — adding that the surfer was fighting for his life in the ICU. A June 27 update posted to the GoFundMe shared that Dakota is continuing to make progress in his recovery, stating he was moved from the ICU to the trauma floor of the hospital. 'He has opened his eyes a few times, moved his right thumb and moved his left arm (responds to commands),' the update read. KGTV reported that Dakota was placed in a medically induced coma this past weekend and is in critical but stable condition. Both Lau and the GoFundMe said that Dakota's spine was damaged but not severed. She said the effect of the head trauma is uncertain. Additionally, she told KGTV, "Right now, according to tests, he doesn't have feeling in his lower body." At the moment, Dakota has been able to breathe on his own. "There has been an outpouring of love," Lau said, per KGTV. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The GoFundMe organizers asked for people to pray for Dakota's recovery and healing process. 'We appreciate all the love and support coming Dakota's way. He has a long journey ahead, and your support is received with deep love and gratitude,' they wrote in their update. Following in his father Shawn's footsteps, Dakota is also a surfer on the North Shore, according to Stab Magazine. PEOPLE has reached out to Lau for comment. Read the original article on People
San Francisco Chronicle
17 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Fireworks explosion: Officials expect several dead as officials sift rubble for human remains
Human remains were found at the site of a major explosion this week at a fireworks factory near Esparto, Yolo County Sheriff's Office confirmed Friday. In a press release, the sheriff's office said they had not yet identified the remains and did not specify how many people were confirmed dead, though Sheriff's Office spokesperson Lt. Don Hartman told the Chronicle that he was fairly certain that 'more than one' person had been killed based on the remains recovered so far. Seven people were reported missing shortly after the explosion. By Thursday, officials said at least one person had been killed in Tuesday's blast, which also triggered a 78-acre fire. By late Friday morning, coroners were still trying to locate additional bodies, though their efforts were hampered by the risk of igniting any dormant pyrotechnics that remained. The scene looked like 'devastation,' Hartman said, with rubble and debris everywhere and lingering 'hot spots' of fire. Once all remains are recovered, teams will employ rapid DNA testing on them to identify those killed in the blasts. The incident, which is being called the Oakdale Fire, began around 5:50 p.m. on Tuesday after a commercial fireworks facility ignited. The flames quickly spread to the warehouse containing the pyrotechnics, triggering a massive fireball embedded with popping fireworks and an enormous plume of smoke billowing more than 10,000 feet into the air. Among the missing were brothers and warehouse employees Joel 'Jr' Melendez, 28, Johnny Ramos, 22, and Jesus Maneces Ramos, 18, who'd just begun his first day. A GoFundMe page was set up for Melendez' pregnant wife, Maria, and their 11-month-old son. The warehouse belonged to a company called Devastating Pyrotechnics, according to a joint statement by Marysville, Yuba City, and Sutter and Yuba counties. Archived versions of the company's website describe it as having 30 years of experience producing pyrotechnic displays across California. Arson and bomb investigators from CAL FIRE are leading the investigation into the origin and cause of the explosion.
New York Post
18 hours ago
- New York Post
Social media influencer sentenced for child porn
A social media influencer who gained a following sharing his picturesque Gulf Coast lifestyle with his wife online has been sentenced to five years behind bars for child pornography. Georgia native Joshua David Stapleton, 39, received a 20-year sentence, with five years served in jail and another 15 years on probation after pleading guilty to 20 counts of sexual exploitation of children, according to court documents obtained by Fox 5 Atlanta. Stapleton and his wife run the 'Gulf Coast Stapletons' social media account, which has racked up more than 86,000 followers and over a million likes on TikTok and Instagram. Investigators learned that between 2018 and 2020, Stapleton downloaded images of prepubescent children in sexually abusive situations. 3 Joshua David Stapleton, 39, received a 20-year sentence, with 5 years to be served in custody and the remaining 15 on probation. Bartow County Sheriff's Office 3 Josh and Brittani Stapleton ran 'The Gulf Coast Stapletons' TikTok account together. Instagram/brittanimorris_stapleton He was initially charged with 15 counts of child porn possession, but was later indicted on 40 counts of sexual exploitation of children. He entered a non-negotiable plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to just 20 counts. The 'Gulf Coast Stapletons' lifestyle content features the couple working out, eating food and going on vacations. Just last week they posted several videos from their trip to Orange Beach, Alabama. Stapleton's wife, Brittani Morris Stapleton, has been attempting to correct what she's called 'misinformation' online about her husband after news of his case spread. The pair were married in 2023 after he'd been charged. 'Josh was absolutely up front with me about everything in the charges, there were no secrets,' she said in a recent TikTok post. 3 'The Gulf Coast Stapletons' have more than 86,000 followers on TikTok. Instagram/brittanimorris_stapleton She also pushed back on accusations that the pair were projecting 'fake lives' on their social media accounts. 'There's nothing fake about it. It was our lives, we are still happy, he and I have no issues,' Brittani posted. Stapleton is currently being held in the Bartow County Sheriff's Office Jail.
