Authorities are sharing sinister details about the 24-year-old white man who shot and killed a Black unarmed panhandler over the weekend in Baton Rouge.
Jace Boyd was seated in his car Saturday night outside of a Trader Joe’s grocery store when he was approached by 61-year-old Danny Buckley who asked for money. Boyd initially turned Buckley away but got out of his car moments later when he saw Buckley approach two young white women, Action News Jax reports.
Boyd fatally shot Buckley, who was unarmed, but only after Boyd reloaded his misfiring weapon, took aim and fired, according to a police report released by Baton Rouge officials. The affidavit says Buckley was “unarmed and was out of arms reach” when he was gunned down.
Now keep in mind, Baton Rouge police questioned Boyd and let him go home before they reached out to the public for help in finding him after obtaining an arrest warrant. Boyd was eventually found and arrested after a public search.
Authorities say Boyd is being charged with second-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon. As of today, he remained in the East Baton Rouge Parish Jail in lieu of $300,000 bond.
Authorities said they found Buckley in the parking lot, suffering from a single gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was rushed to a hospital but died of his injury.
“The suspect and victim engaged in a verbal dispute through the open window of the suspect’s vehicle,” the affidavit states. “At this time, the suspect exited his vehicle and yelled at the victim to leave people alone because he was scaring them.”
But according to one of the woman Buckley approached, that was not the case. The woman, using only her first name of Kaylee, posted details on Twitter this week in which she said she was the last person Buckley asked for money before he was shot.
“I never felt threatened by Mr. Buckley in any way,” Kaylee tweeted.
“Yes, he did ask for money,” said Kaylee while speaking to WAFB. “Yes, maybe he did come a little into my space to speak to me, but that’s not a death sentence.”
Authorities said Buckley walked back toward Boyd as he called out to him.
Boyd “intentionally and knowingly pulled the trigger,” firing the fatal bullet into Buckley’s lower abdomen, according to authorities.
We’ll keep you posted on any updates.
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