William Marcus Wilson, contributed via Facebook.comWhat happened: Late at night, 21-year-old William Marcus Wilson and his girlfriend were driving home from a Taco Bell when a pickup truck swerved into their lane, according to court testimony. According to Wilson, the four White passengers in the truck appeared to be drunk. They taunted him with racial slurs, he told police, and tried to drive him off the road. Wilson responded by firing his gun toward the truck, killing 17-year-old passenger Haley Hutcheson.
Outcome: Wilson turned himself in and was charged with felony murder. The other driver, 18-year-old Mason Glisson, later admitted that he’d been drinking but faced no charges for underage drinking or driving under the influence. Wilson’s stand your ground claim was denied. Although the judge conceded that the truck’s passengers started the altercation, he found that by the time Wilson fired the fatal shots, the truck was driving away. The judge also said there was not enough evidence that the truck rammed Wilson’s car or that its passengers used racial slurs. Wilson was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and acquitted on all other charges Aug. 31. He faces up to 10 years in prison.
Photo: William Marcus Wilson, contributed via Facebook.com
The Black NFL Player Slain in a Road-Rage Incident
Terrytown, LouisianaDec. 1, 2016
Joe McKnight, by Al Pereira/New York Jets/Getty ImagesWhat happened: Former NFL running back Joe McKnight was driving aggressively on a highway outside New Orleans, weaving in and out of traffic, when he encountered 56-year-old Ronald Gasser, a White businessman who lived nearby. Gasser decided to give chase, pursuing McKnight for five miles and following him off the highway. At an intersection, McKnight – who was unarmed – got out of his vehicle and approached Gasser’s car, police said. Gasser then shot and killed the former football star.
Outcome: While Gasser ended up getting convicted for killing McKnight (with his conviction later thrown out on a technicality), his case highlights long-standing racial inequities in criminal proceedings. At first, after interviewing him for several hours, sheriffs allowed Gasser to go free. The local NAACP protested, arguing that the shooter got off easy because he is White. He eventually was charged with second-degree murder, and at trial, Gasser claimed he was acting in self-defense. Prosecutors, who conceded that McKnight was driving “like a jerk,” argued that Gasser was the aggressor and should be held accountable. There was only one Black juror, even though Jefferson Parish is more than 25% Black. Gasser was convicted of manslaughter in 2018, and after his conviction was thrown out, courts ruled that he can't be retried for murder, only for manslaughter. Gasser remains in custody pending a new trial.
Photo: Joe McKnight, by Al Pereira/New York Jets/Getty Images
Statesboro, Georgia 
June 14, 2020
