Police are investigating a man’s death as a suicide after he was found hanging from a tree in downtown Raleigh.
The man was found on August 15 on South McDowell Street just after 3 p.m. The victim’s identity has not been released.
The Medical Examiner’s Office refused to confirm the victim’s race to Atlanta Black Star, but WRAL reported he is Black.
Since the man’s death, Raleigh police have issued a public response addressing what they described as “unverified information” circulating online.
“We understand that this loss may be deeply painful for those who knew and cared about the individual. We ask everyone to please be mindful of the family and friends who are grieving and to avoid sharing unverified information or speculation while investigators continue their work,” police said in a statement.
Atlanta Black Star reached out to Raleigh police for more information about the case but has not received a response.
Local Leaders Demand Answers
News of the recent investigation sent the internet into an uproar, prompting some local Raleigh leaders to address the troubling case.
“This is a horrific and deeply disturbing situation,” Jonathan Melton, Raleigh City Council At-Large, said on Facebook. “I have no words to describe how I felt hearing this news adequately, and I know many folks in our city are feeling fear, grief, and concern.”
Corey Branch, another Raleigh City Councilman, also took to social media.
“An African-American male was found hanging from a tree, and RPD, along with state and federal officials, are investigating,” he wrote on Facebook. “I ask that we let RPD and the SBI do the investigating, and more information to come.”
Atlanta Black Star has yet to verify the federal authorities’ involvement in the case.
A Troubling Pattern
This is the seventh case Atlanta Black Star has confirmed in the United States this year of a Black person being found hanging under mysterious circumstances.
Kyle Bassinga, 21, was found hanging from a tree in Marietta, Georgia, on Feb. 18. His death was ruled a suicide shortly afterward.
In another case, 16-year-old Juliana Umba Nzita was found hanging from a tree in a churchyard in Charlotte, North Carolina, on May 8. The medical examiner also ruled her death a suicide.
To’Nea Nicole Miller, 27, was found hanging from a tree on June 18 in Miami. Three days later, 21-year-old Justice Kai James was found hanging outside the cafeteria at Turner Job Corps in Albany, Georgia, on June 21.
Jerard “Jay” Jackson, 28, was also found dead, reportedly hanging from a tree. Investigators said he left a music festival in Rothbury, Michigan, before he was discovered on June 30.
More recently, Tasia Fortune, 29, was found hanging from a tree behind a vacant home in Jackson, Mississippi, on Aug. 3.
There are likely more cases that have yet to be publicized or investigated.
