Black man shot to death after giving white man's girlfriend a compliment outside bar, cops say
Oct. 4 2021, Published 10:35 a.m. ET
A white man in Oregon is now facing a second-degree murder charge after he allegedly shot and killed a Black man who spoke to his girlfriend outside of a bar last month, police said.
On Sept. 19, 27-year-old Ian Cranston shot and killed 22-year-old Barry Washington Jr. after Washington complimented Cranston’s girlfriend while standing outside a club in Bend, Oregon, according to the Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel.
According to a press release from the District Attorney’s office, Cranston was initially charged with manslaughter in the case.
However, a grand jury indicted Cranston on six charges in connection to the shooting, including second-degree murder, police said.
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Hummel added the case is racially charged, but hate crime charges have not been filed against Cranston due to insufficient evidence, WAGM-TV reported.
According to WAGM-TV, Hummel spoke about the country’s history of lynching Black men for talking to white women and the shooting reminded people of those cases.
Cranston’s attorney said video evidence shows the shooting incident differently than prosecutors portrayed. Washington attacked his Cranston first, and the lawyer believes the Hummel is making an intense situation worse with his accusations, WAGM-TV stated.
Cranston was arrested after the initial manslaughter charge and has been held without bail in jail, police said. The case remains under investigation, authorities said.
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