Two African-Americans found dead, hanging from trees, 10 days and 80 km apart. While the authorities initially concluded that they had committed suicide, the Los Angeles sheriff announced on Monday the opening of an investigation into the death of Robert Fuller, found hanged in Palmdale on June 10. And the Riverside County Sheriff said investigations are continuing into the death of Malcolm Harsh in Victorville on May 31.
In a tense climate since the death of George Floyd, the families of the two men expressed doubts about the official theory and believe that they could have been victims of racist lynchings.
"Shedding light"
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has pledged to "shed light on the circumstances of the tragedy." The body of Robert Fuller, a 24-year-old African American boy, was found hanged from a tree near Palmdale Town Hall at 3:34 a.m. on June 10. An autopsy will be performed and will examine in particular the knot of the rope. Authorities are also going to rummage through CCTV footage of the neighborhood, when no witnesses have come forward.
LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva and other officials provided updates on the investigation into the death of Robert Fuller, a Black man who was found hanging from a tree in Palmdale. https://t.co/HghOw5EITq pic.twitter.com/1EbTTBYDAS
- Los Angeles Times (@latimes) June 15, 2020Malcolm Harsh, 38, was found hanged near a homeless camp in Victorville, a town 80 km west of Palmdale, on May 31. It was his partner who called for help saying he had hanged himself, but she was absent at the time of the events. A brother of Malcolm Harsh said he was "not suicidal." According to him, the police report mentions blood on his shirt, but no internal injuries.
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