The family of 21-year-old truck driver Javion Magee from the Chicagoland area is seeking clarity from authorities following the discovery of their son found deceased near a tree in Henderson, North Carolina. Reports suggest that the circumstances surrounding his death are suspicious, prompting ongoing questions from the family.
During an interview with local news station WTVD, Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame clarified that Magee was not found hanging from the tree, stating it was not a case of lynching. Magee was in Henderson on September 10, where he was making a delivery to a Walmart Supercenter. According to Candice Matthews, a civil rights activist acting as the family’s spokesperson, police informed the family that Magee later returned to the Walmart and purchased a rope that same day.
A police report indicates that deputies discovered Magee’s body at the base of a tree, sitting with a rope around his neck that was also attached to the tree. The family is questioning the police narrative and is troubled by the gap between the time Magee completed his delivery and the circumstances of his death.
Initially, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office indicated to Magee’s family that he died by suicide. Matthews expressed frustration over this claim, pointing out that no autopsy results have been provided and that an extensive investigation has not yet taken place. “How can you say that it was a suicide?” she asked, noting that Magee had no history of mental health issues or criminal behavior. She further questioned how he could have been left in such a position.
The Henderson Police Department stated that the case is under the jurisdiction of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Brame confirmed in a written statement that law enforcement responded to a call about a deceased individual on September 11. Upon arrival, they found Magee, identified later as a resident of Aurora, Illinois. His body has been sent for autopsy.
Despite the circumstances of his death, the sheriff’s office has not officially designated it as a suicide. Booth Veazey, director of safety at KLLM Transport Services, where Magee was employed, expressed condolences and confirmed their cooperation with the investigation but refrained from providing further details about Magee’s employment.
The family has called for a transparent investigation and is urging federal authorities to classify the incident as a hate crime. “We demand the Department of Justice to come in and investigate this. We demand the FBI to come in and investigate this as a hate crime,” Matthews stated. They have engaged civil rights attorneys Lee Merritt and Harry Daniels for legal support. A press conference is expected to be held soon in North Carolina, with timing details forthcoming.
Authorities are appealing for any information related to Magee’s death and encourage the public to contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office or Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers. This story is currently developing, and updates will follow.