The family of 21-year-old Javion Magee, who was found dead with a rope around his neck in Henderson, North Carolina, has questioned video footage released by the Vance County Sheriff's Office.
The footage, released on Monday, shows a Black man, believed to be Magee, purchasing a rope from the self-checkout lane of a Walmart in Henderson. The video was recorded hours before Magee was discovered under a tree with the same rope around his neck on September 11.
I hadn’t seen many updates, but this is video of #JavionMagee purchasing the rope at Walmart at self checkout as the Vance County Sheriff’s Department stated previously pic.twitter.com/TAOf7h1Lno
— CJ G (@cjgproduxions) September 17, 2024
Magee’s family argues that the footage only raises more questions and does not provide clarity on the circumstances of his death.
At a press conference outside the Vance County Courthouse on September 18, Magee’s family and their attorneys rejected the idea that the footage confirms Magee's death as a suicide. Vance County Sheriff Curtis R. Brame, however, has maintained that there were no signs of foul play in Magee’s death, stating, "This was not a lynching."
Despite this, Candice Matthews, a spokesperson for the family, stated, “The family is saying that specific video does not declare the fact that this was a suicide. The family still suspects foul play at this point right now, but they really just want answers.” She emphasized that there are still many questions surrounding Magee's death, especially regarding the timeline between purchasing the rope and his death. "They want to know from that timeline, from him purchasing that rope all the way to the tree where he was hung," she added.
Social media has been rife with speculation, and Magee's family remains unconvinced. Civil rights attorney Lee Merritt, representing the family, questioned the suicide theory, saying, "I don’t know too many gainfully employed, happy 21-year-olds who drive to Vance County and kill themselves."
Javion Magee Update
— Trey King 213 (@treythetruth213) September 18, 2024
911 Caller Said Javion was hanging from a tree.
The reporter said that Javion was sitting with his back to a tree.
The Sheriff said there was no noose around his neck & the rope wasn't tied.
So, how can you hang yourself from a tree if the rope wasn't tighten? pic.twitter.com/4Rr7U9982q
According to authorities, Magee's wallet and cell phone were found inside his truck when police arrived on the scene. Investigators revealed that Magee was found around 16 hours after purchasing the rope, which had been wrapped 11 times around his neck and tied to a tree branch.
The North Carolina Chief Medical Examiner’s Office has yet to release an official cause of death, leaving the investigation open. Despite the sheriff's conclusion, Magee’s family and legal team continue to push for further investigation.
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