The family of 21-year-old Javion Magee, a truck driver from the Chicagoland area, is seeking clarity following the discovery of his body in Henderson, North Carolina. Reports indicate that Magee was found at the base of a tree, leading his family to demand further investigation after local authorities dismissed the case as a suicide.
During a recent interview, Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame stated that Magee was not found hanging from a tree and emphasized that there was no evidence of lynching. Magee had been in Henderson to deliver a load to a Walmart on September 10, as confirmed by civil rights activist Candice Matthews, who is representing his family.
According to Matthews, police informed the family that Magee returned to Walmart later that day to purchase items, including a rope. A police report revealed that deputies discovered Magee outside a fenced area, seated with a rope around his neck, which was connected to the tree.
The family is perplexed by the timeline of events, particularly what transpired between Magee’s delivery and the moment he was found. Initially, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office informed his family that he had died by suicide, a claim Matthews challenged, highlighting the absence of an autopsy report and a full investigation.
“How can you say it was a suicide?” Matthews questioned. “We have not even had an autopsy report. We haven’t had a full investigation.” She pointed out that Magee did not have a history of mental illness, raising doubts about the circumstances surrounding his death.
The Henderson Police Department deferred inquiries to the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, which is in charge of the investigation in the area, situated approximately 43 miles north of Raleigh, NC.
According to Sheriff Brame’s statement, officials received the notification about a deceased individual on September 11. Upon arrival, they found Magee in the described position. His body was subsequently sent for an autopsy, and the case remains under investigation.
The sheriff’s statement stopped short of classifying Magee’s death as a suicide. KLLM Transport Services, where Magee was employed, expressed condolences and indicated cooperation with investigative efforts.
The family is not only seeking answers but is also pushing for a comprehensive investigation, including intervention from the federal government. “We demand the Department of Justice and the FBI to investigate this as a hate crime,” Matthews stated.
Magee’s family has engaged civil rights attorneys Lee Merritt and Harry Daniels to assist with the case. They plan to hold a press conference in North Carolina shortly, with specific details pending.
Authorities are encouraging anyone with information regarding Magee’s death to contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office or the Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers. This story is still developing, and updates will follow.