Stay Connected
Atlanta Black Star/Politics/National
NationalNewsNews Video

Man Charged After Spitting on 3-Year-Old and Calling Him the N-Word at Hooters

Posted byBy Kiersten Willis | Published on: CommentsComments (0)

KCTV5

An Overland Park, Kan. man who made headlines for spitting on a Black pre-schooler at Hooters Monday, Feb. 26 has been charged over the racist attack.

Terrence J. Skeen, 42, has been charged with one count each of battery, disorderly conduct and assault according to KCTV. Skeen is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, April 3.

The 3-year-old victim was at Hooters with his family who was celebrating a birthday when onlookers saw Skeen, a first responder who saw the child wander away said, “get that little n—- up off the floor,” after spitting on him.

Once officers arrived on the scene a witness told the local news station, “I didn’t catch what the officer said to him, but his immediate response was ‘It’s okay, I’m a fireman.’ Like that was supposed to blanket cover everything for him.”

Now, the case has been handed over to the FBI to determine if any more investigation is needed.

“My whole body just went numb,” the 3-year-old’s grandfather said anonymously. “How could someone do that to a child? He’s a baby. He’s helpless. He didn’t deserve that.”

In a statement reacting to the incident, Hooters said, “it does not tolerate any harassment or discriminatory language, the safety and well-being of our guests and employees are our utmost priorities. Of course, it goes without saying that our policy is to fully cooperate with any law enforcement investigation.”

Independent journalism doesn't fund itself.

We hope this story was worth your time. For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed Black-owned and independently run. We didn't get here by waiting on ad budgets that were never built to prioritize us. Our readers did that.

Corporate support for Black media has always been thin. Outlets like ours get roughly 1% of the $170 billion spent on U.S. advertising each year, and that margin is shrinking further as advertisers walk back the DEI-linked commitments they made in 2020. That's the backdrop. It's not why we're asking.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Give once Give monthly Support another way

Related Stories

Back to top