Prosecutors in Miami have filed charges with hate crime enhancements against a 51 year old man named Mark, following a confrontation with a group of Black teens who were protesting housing inequality on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, according to police and a statement from Miami Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
Video of the incident went viral. The teens say Mark pulled a gun and used racial slurs. Eighteen year old Deante told ABC affiliate WPLG that Mark pointed the gun at him from inside his car and told him to come over. “We were holding up signs for housing. That’s all we were doing,” Deante said.
Mark has given a different account. He told WPLG he saw a group running toward his girlfriend, who had gotten into an argument with the teens, and that he ran out to protect her. He said the gun was not loaded and that he never pointed it or threatened anyone.
According to the State Attorney’s statement on Tuesday, Mark faces three counts of aggravated assault with prejudice, enhanced to a second degree felony, one count of improper exhibition of a firearm, enhanced to a third degree felony, and one count of carrying a concealed firearm, a third degree felony. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to 55 years in prison. The charges are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The five protesters have also filed a lawsuit against Mark and his girlfriend, seeking damages for pain and suffering.
