Family Of Black Man Accused Of Shooting White Woman During Racist Attack Calls For Fair Trial

A Black man suspected of murdering a white woman is set to appear in front of a judge for a preliminary and bond hearing. Meanwhile, the man’s family is calling for a fair trial, as they claim he was just defending himself and his girlfriend in a racial attack. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

William Marcus Wilson, 21, has been charged with the felony murder and aggravated assault in connection with the shooting death of 17-year-old #HaleyHutcheson of Bellville, Statesboro Herald reports. Wilson, who hails from Sharpsburg, Georgia turned himself in to Statesboro police on June 17; Hutcheson was murdered on June 14. The outlet reports that he is being held in Bulloch County Jail without bond until the hearing, which is scheduled for Tuesday. He will face Bulloch County Superior Court Judge Michael Muldrew on Tuesday, July 7.

At around 12:45 a.m., Hutcheson was shot as she traveled in another car on Veteran’s Memorial Parkway near Brannen Street in Statesboro. According to police, others, who were in the car, immediately took her East Georgia Regional Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. The shot came from another vehicle near them, presumably Wilson’s. Just a day before the man turned himself in, Hutcheson’s family pleaded for the person responsible to come forward. Wilson’s attorney, Francys Johnson, said the man was already planning to turn himself in, as police had already pinpointed Wilson as a suspect. 

However, a petition on change.org created by Wilson’s family is calling for a fair trial, saying that Wilson was only defending his girlfriend when a group of people attacked them in another car, all while yelling racial slurs. Hutcheson was riding in that other car. According to the petition, Wilson was out with his girlfriend that night in Sharpsburg when teens in another car began screaming racial slurs while playing music from the horror film “The Purge.” That other group, which Hutcheson was part of, tried to drive Wilson and his girlfriend off the road. In response, Wilson fired a warning shot that struck Hutcheson. Wilson says he was protecting himself and his girlfriend. No one else has been arrested that was involved in the incident except Wilson. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Whether or not the case should be bound over for court will be decided during the July 7 preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. The case may be held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic. Hutcheson was a student at Claxton High School.