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Was Murdered Ferguson Man a Grand Jury Witness?
Written by Selwyn Duke
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Was Murdered Ferguson Man a Grand Jury Witness?
The murder bore some earmarks of a hit. The young man was found behind the wheel of his white Pontiac Grand Prix, shot to death through the driver?s side window. There also was possibly something unique about him:
That he might have witnessed the Michael Brown shooting.
The young man was 20-year-old DeAndre Joshua, widely reported as the first casualty of the Ferguson riots. He was found dead Monday night mere yards from where robbery suspect Brown was shot in self-defense by Officer Darren Wilson on August 9. And Joshua?s alleged status as a possible witness to that fateful summer incident is raising some eyebrows.
The implication is that someone rubbed him out because he talked ? or because it was thought he did. As UniversalFreePress.com?s Dave Gibson wrote, ?While officials would not say if Joshua was in fact, a witness to the shooting death of Michael Brown, nor if he actually provided testimony to the grand jury which ultimately cleared Officer Darren Wilson of any wrongdoing in the shooting, his murder does point to a retribution-type killing.? Gibson closes his piece pointing out, ?As the gangland saying goes: ?Snitches get stitches!??
Yet the argument for this motive is far from unassailable. While it?s not generally reported that Joshua was robbed, a woman (identified as a friend or relative) quoted in this Daily Mail article made passing reference to that being the case. The paper also writes that the young man?s grandmother, Renita Towns, ?said that he graduated Beaumont High School and that he was working in Wal-Mart. Family member Brian Joshua, 45, added: 'He was a good kid, he's gone to high school, he's got a job, he's not into drugs or any of that stuff.?? On the other hand, one website claims that DeAndre Joshua was ?in fact, a drug dealer, according to both law enforcement sources and his Facebook page? (it doesn?t provide much evidence for this allegation, however). He was also a friend of Brown?s accomplice during the August 9 robbery, Dorian Johnson, who is currently under protection. The point is that there could be reasons for Joshua?s murder other than his being a possible ?snitch.?
Yet while the picture surrounding Joshua?s murder is fuzzy, the reason why some suspect a retribution killing is airtight:
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It?s now known definitively that many black Ferguson grand-jury witnesses were afraid to testify ? often fearing retaliation from those in their own community.
As Time?s Tina Susman wrote on Thursday, opening her piece with one anonymous individual?s story, ?This witness was scared. He had Googled himself and found the phrase: ?Snitches get stitches.?? She explained that the witness was frightened ?that black neighbors would find fault with his description of what happened? when Officer Wilson shot Michael Brown. Another witness, wrote Susman, ?who described Brown as charging toward Wilson, said he felt uncomfortable walking into the Ferguson police station ?past all the protesting going on,? but felt it was his duty to tell what he had seen.? She writes of yet another ?who testified that Brown ?might have been punching? Wilson through his car window? as having stated "I'm shaking and I'm nervous right now and I'm scared, you know.?
Other witnesses expressed fears many would describe as paranoid, such as concern over retribution by the Ferguson Police or KKK. (Given that the KKK?s membership is down to a couple thousand members nationwide, with as many as 10 percent being FBI informants, this boogeyman may be reminiscent of how 19th-century British mothers would once warn their children to ?be good or Nappy will get you? ? even after Napoleon Bonaparte?s death.)
But the fears, realistic and unrealistic both, may explain why it took the Ferguson grand jury so long to render their decision. As Susman also wrote, quoting Kathi Alizadeh, an attorney presenting evidence:
he said there were about 15 eyewitnesses or other people with potentially valuable information still to question, and some were resisting.
"Some of them have frankly said there is no way I'm coming in, no way I'm going to testify," Alizadeh told the jury. In those cases, she said the only option was to serve them with subpoenas. "But if you knock on the door and nobody answers, we have no right, you know, to kick in the door," she said.
Of course, witness fear is nothing new ? it has long served to deter those who would testify against organized crime and is why the witness-protection program exists. Yet fear and intimidation have had enough of an effect in the Ferguson fiasco to lead many to believe that, to an extent at least, the rule of law had broken down. While the United States certainly isn?t yet like Colombia ? where criminals could once intimidate officials with the policy ?silver or lead? (accept bribes or face bullets) ? even Ferguson police officers and their families have gone into hiding due to death threats, as The New American reported recently.
Given this, it?s no surprise that the possibility of retribution was also a factor for the grand jurors. In fact, St. Louis County prosecutor Robert McCulloch had warned them to safeguard their anonymity and ?not wear their juror badges as they entered the justice building in Clayton, Mo., lest news reporters or others spot them,? wrote Susman.
Reflecting this breakdown in rule of law, a police officer had warned anonymously prior to the Ferguson grand-jury decision, ?We will not be able to protect you or your family? If you do not have a gun, get one and get one soon.? After witnessing Monday?s burning and looting and the murder of DeAndre Joshua, it seems this was sound advice that, just perhaps, the Ferguson witnesses who courageously spoke the truth may want to heed themselves.
Written by Selwyn Duke
font size decrease font size increase font size
Was Murdered Ferguson Man a Grand Jury Witness?
The murder bore some earmarks of a hit. The young man was found behind the wheel of his white Pontiac Grand Prix, shot to death through the driver?s side window. There also was possibly something unique about him:
That he might have witnessed the Michael Brown shooting.
The young man was 20-year-old DeAndre Joshua, widely reported as the first casualty of the Ferguson riots. He was found dead Monday night mere yards from where robbery suspect Brown was shot in self-defense by Officer Darren Wilson on August 9. And Joshua?s alleged status as a possible witness to that fateful summer incident is raising some eyebrows.
The implication is that someone rubbed him out because he talked ? or because it was thought he did. As UniversalFreePress.com?s Dave Gibson wrote, ?While officials would not say if Joshua was in fact, a witness to the shooting death of Michael Brown, nor if he actually provided testimony to the grand jury which ultimately cleared Officer Darren Wilson of any wrongdoing in the shooting, his murder does point to a retribution-type killing.? Gibson closes his piece pointing out, ?As the gangland saying goes: ?Snitches get stitches!??
Yet the argument for this motive is far from unassailable. While it?s not generally reported that Joshua was robbed, a woman (identified as a friend or relative) quoted in this Daily Mail article made passing reference to that being the case. The paper also writes that the young man?s grandmother, Renita Towns, ?said that he graduated Beaumont High School and that he was working in Wal-Mart. Family member Brian Joshua, 45, added: 'He was a good kid, he's gone to high school, he's got a job, he's not into drugs or any of that stuff.?? On the other hand, one website claims that DeAndre Joshua was ?in fact, a drug dealer, according to both law enforcement sources and his Facebook page? (it doesn?t provide much evidence for this allegation, however). He was also a friend of Brown?s accomplice during the August 9 robbery, Dorian Johnson, who is currently under protection. The point is that there could be reasons for Joshua?s murder other than his being a possible ?snitch.?
Yet while the picture surrounding Joshua?s murder is fuzzy, the reason why some suspect a retribution killing is airtight:
Advertisement
It?s now known definitively that many black Ferguson grand-jury witnesses were afraid to testify ? often fearing retaliation from those in their own community.
As Time?s Tina Susman wrote on Thursday, opening her piece with one anonymous individual?s story, ?This witness was scared. He had Googled himself and found the phrase: ?Snitches get stitches.?? She explained that the witness was frightened ?that black neighbors would find fault with his description of what happened? when Officer Wilson shot Michael Brown. Another witness, wrote Susman, ?who described Brown as charging toward Wilson, said he felt uncomfortable walking into the Ferguson police station ?past all the protesting going on,? but felt it was his duty to tell what he had seen.? She writes of yet another ?who testified that Brown ?might have been punching? Wilson through his car window? as having stated "I'm shaking and I'm nervous right now and I'm scared, you know.?
Other witnesses expressed fears many would describe as paranoid, such as concern over retribution by the Ferguson Police or KKK. (Given that the KKK?s membership is down to a couple thousand members nationwide, with as many as 10 percent being FBI informants, this boogeyman may be reminiscent of how 19th-century British mothers would once warn their children to ?be good or Nappy will get you? ? even after Napoleon Bonaparte?s death.)
But the fears, realistic and unrealistic both, may explain why it took the Ferguson grand jury so long to render their decision. As Susman also wrote, quoting Kathi Alizadeh, an attorney presenting evidence:
"Some of them have frankly said there is no way I'm coming in, no way I'm going to testify," Alizadeh told the jury. In those cases, she said the only option was to serve them with subpoenas. "But if you knock on the door and nobody answers, we have no right, you know, to kick in the door," she said.
Of course, witness fear is nothing new ? it has long served to deter those who would testify against organized crime and is why the witness-protection program exists. Yet fear and intimidation have had enough of an effect in the Ferguson fiasco to lead many to believe that, to an extent at least, the rule of law had broken down. While the United States certainly isn?t yet like Colombia ? where criminals could once intimidate officials with the policy ?silver or lead? (accept bribes or face bullets) ? even Ferguson police officers and their families have gone into hiding due to death threats, as The New American reported recently.
Given this, it?s no surprise that the possibility of retribution was also a factor for the grand jurors. In fact, St. Louis County prosecutor Robert McCulloch had warned them to safeguard their anonymity and ?not wear their juror badges as they entered the justice building in Clayton, Mo., lest news reporters or others spot them,? wrote Susman.
Reflecting this breakdown in rule of law, a police officer had warned anonymously prior to the Ferguson grand-jury decision, ?We will not be able to protect you or your family? If you do not have a gun, get one and get one soon.? After witnessing Monday?s burning and looting and the murder of DeAndre Joshua, it seems this was sound advice that, just perhaps, the Ferguson witnesses who courageously spoke the truth may want to heed themselves.
Why Charles Barkley supports the Ferguson grand jury decision
Why Charles Barkley supports the Ferguson grand jury decision
Why Charles Barkley supports the Ferguson grand jury decision
Former NBA star Charles Barkley called Ferguson looters 'scumbags' and said that 'key forensic evidence, and several black witnesses that supported Officer Darren Wilson?s story.'
.
Christian Science Monitor
By Husna Haq
9 hours ago
.
Former NBA star Charles Barkley recently called Ferguson looters "scumbags," praised police officers who work in black neighborhoods, and said he supports the decision made by the grand jury not to indict officer Darren Wilson in the Michael Brown shooting.
During an interview on 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia on Tuesday, the day after the Ferguson decision was announced, host Mike Missanelli asked Barkley about it and why "black America" doesn't trust the ruling.
His response surprised some listeners.
"The true story came out from the grand jury testimony," Barkley said, adding that he was made aware of "key forensic evidence, and several black witnesses that supported Officer Darren Wilson?s story..." He continued, "I can?t believe anything I hear on television anymore. And, that?s why I don?t like talking about race issues with the media anymore, because they (the media) love this stuff, and lead people to jump to conclusions. The media shouldn?t do that. They never do that when black people kill each other. "
He also called those who rioted after the decision was announced "scumbags," and said "There is no excuse for people to be out there burning down people's businesses, burning down police cars."
And in a marked departure from other prominent black leaders who have questioned tactics used by officers and, in some cases, accused officers of racial profiling and outright racism, Barkley supported police officers, especially those who work in black neighborhoods.
?[W]e have to be really careful with the cops, because if it wasn?t for the cops we would be living in the Wild, Wild West in our neighborhoods," he said. "We can?t pick out certain incidentals that don?t go our way and act like the cops are all bad.... Do you know how bad some of these neighborhoods would be if it wasn't for the cops??
His comments are in sharp contrast with those made by other black leaders on the Ferguson case. Rev. Al Sharpton and civil rights activist Jesse Jackson have both criticized the Ferguson decision and racial profiling by police. President Obama is scheduled to hold meetings with civil rights groups Monday on law enforcement and how to rebuild trust in black communities.
Other black athletes have also reacted to the Ferguson decision. Prior to Sunday?s kickoff against the Oakland Raiders, St. Louis Rams football players Stedman Bailey, Tavon Austin, Jared Cook, Chris Givens and Kenny Britt entered the field with their hands up, referring to the "hands up, don't shoot," rallying cry of Michael Brown supporters.
This PBS Newshour chart shows that a majority of grand jury witnesses agreed that Michael Brown reached into Officer Wilson's police car, but a majority also testified that Michael Brown had his hands up when he was fatally shot.
Barkley immediately drew praise from conservative media and bloggers. "Charles Barkley speaks the truth about Ferguson, calls out the media, and it?s EPIC," wrote Young Conservatives. "Former NBA star Charles Barkley slams Ferguson rioters, leftstream media and Obama," said the Tea Party News Network.
While Barkley's comments are a departure from that of some of his black colleagues, they shouldn't be surprising to those who know Barkley.
In 2013, Barkley famously said he agreed with the George Zimmerman acquittal in the shooting of Trayvon Martin. In July of last year, a Florida jury found that neighborhood watch leader Zimmerman, who is white and Hispanic, was not guilty in the shooting death of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin.
"That?s probably not a popular opinion among most people. But just looking at the evidence, I agreed with the verdict," he told CNBC host Maria Bartiromo on CNBC's Closing Bell about the Zimmerman verdict.
Twitter lit up with reaction to Barkley's comments, both angry and supportive.
Charles Barkley is the modern day Uncle Tom and he just made every virulent Klan and hate group in America cheer.? Jeff Gauvin (@JeffersonObama) July 18, 2013
Charles Barkley is the laughing stock of the sports world....dumb as shit and well trained by his slave masters? Jeff Gauvin (@JeffersonObama) July 18, 2013
Charles Barkley with a measured and thoughtful reaction to the #Zimmerman verdict.? Brian Adam Jones (@bjones) July 18, 2013
Pretty intelligent comments by Charles Barkley on CNBC. On several topics, actually, including the Zimmerman trial.? Tom Getz (@Getztowondering) July 18, 2013
Barkley is honest man. Have to respect his take on the #Zimmerman case and on racism.? Richard Golding (@24kt_GLD) July 18, 2013
Regardless of the feedback he gets on his Ferguson comments, Barkley made it clear on the Philadelphia radio show that he will continue to share his thoughts on the Ferguson decision and on race in America, telling listeners, "I ain't shutting up and I ain't backing down."
Why Charles Barkley supports the Ferguson grand jury decision
Why Charles Barkley supports the Ferguson grand jury decision
Former NBA star Charles Barkley called Ferguson looters 'scumbags' and said that 'key forensic evidence, and several black witnesses that supported Officer Darren Wilson?s story.'
.
Christian Science Monitor
By Husna Haq
9 hours ago
.
Former NBA star Charles Barkley recently called Ferguson looters "scumbags," praised police officers who work in black neighborhoods, and said he supports the decision made by the grand jury not to indict officer Darren Wilson in the Michael Brown shooting.
During an interview on 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia on Tuesday, the day after the Ferguson decision was announced, host Mike Missanelli asked Barkley about it and why "black America" doesn't trust the ruling.
His response surprised some listeners.
"The true story came out from the grand jury testimony," Barkley said, adding that he was made aware of "key forensic evidence, and several black witnesses that supported Officer Darren Wilson?s story..." He continued, "I can?t believe anything I hear on television anymore. And, that?s why I don?t like talking about race issues with the media anymore, because they (the media) love this stuff, and lead people to jump to conclusions. The media shouldn?t do that. They never do that when black people kill each other. "
He also called those who rioted after the decision was announced "scumbags," and said "There is no excuse for people to be out there burning down people's businesses, burning down police cars."
And in a marked departure from other prominent black leaders who have questioned tactics used by officers and, in some cases, accused officers of racial profiling and outright racism, Barkley supported police officers, especially those who work in black neighborhoods.
?[W]e have to be really careful with the cops, because if it wasn?t for the cops we would be living in the Wild, Wild West in our neighborhoods," he said. "We can?t pick out certain incidentals that don?t go our way and act like the cops are all bad.... Do you know how bad some of these neighborhoods would be if it wasn't for the cops??
His comments are in sharp contrast with those made by other black leaders on the Ferguson case. Rev. Al Sharpton and civil rights activist Jesse Jackson have both criticized the Ferguson decision and racial profiling by police. President Obama is scheduled to hold meetings with civil rights groups Monday on law enforcement and how to rebuild trust in black communities.
Other black athletes have also reacted to the Ferguson decision. Prior to Sunday?s kickoff against the Oakland Raiders, St. Louis Rams football players Stedman Bailey, Tavon Austin, Jared Cook, Chris Givens and Kenny Britt entered the field with their hands up, referring to the "hands up, don't shoot," rallying cry of Michael Brown supporters.
This PBS Newshour chart shows that a majority of grand jury witnesses agreed that Michael Brown reached into Officer Wilson's police car, but a majority also testified that Michael Brown had his hands up when he was fatally shot.
Barkley immediately drew praise from conservative media and bloggers. "Charles Barkley speaks the truth about Ferguson, calls out the media, and it?s EPIC," wrote Young Conservatives. "Former NBA star Charles Barkley slams Ferguson rioters, leftstream media and Obama," said the Tea Party News Network.
While Barkley's comments are a departure from that of some of his black colleagues, they shouldn't be surprising to those who know Barkley.
In 2013, Barkley famously said he agreed with the George Zimmerman acquittal in the shooting of Trayvon Martin. In July of last year, a Florida jury found that neighborhood watch leader Zimmerman, who is white and Hispanic, was not guilty in the shooting death of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin.
"That?s probably not a popular opinion among most people. But just looking at the evidence, I agreed with the verdict," he told CNBC host Maria Bartiromo on CNBC's Closing Bell about the Zimmerman verdict.
Twitter lit up with reaction to Barkley's comments, both angry and supportive.
Charles Barkley is the modern day Uncle Tom and he just made every virulent Klan and hate group in America cheer.? Jeff Gauvin (@JeffersonObama) July 18, 2013
Charles Barkley is the laughing stock of the sports world....dumb as shit and well trained by his slave masters? Jeff Gauvin (@JeffersonObama) July 18, 2013
Charles Barkley with a measured and thoughtful reaction to the #Zimmerman verdict.? Brian Adam Jones (@bjones) July 18, 2013
Pretty intelligent comments by Charles Barkley on CNBC. On several topics, actually, including the Zimmerman trial.? Tom Getz (@Getztowondering) July 18, 2013
Barkley is honest man. Have to respect his take on the #Zimmerman case and on racism.? Richard Golding (@24kt_GLD) July 18, 2013
Regardless of the feedback he gets on his Ferguson comments, Barkley made it clear on the Philadelphia radio show that he will continue to share his thoughts on the Ferguson decision and on race in America, telling listeners, "I ain't shutting up and I ain't backing down."
There seems to be a common theme among all the last few posts/posters. Somehow you are under the impression that the riots/protests/looting somehow affect the incident of the shooting. It occurs to me that the most pressing complaint I have about the media is that they obfuscate the matter at hand by deflecting the discussion to a specific detail not germane to the original topic. Fox news is by far the most guilty of this tactic, which is why their viewers are always the most consistently misinformed.
It's almost depressing to see how far so many have fallen.
The question is what you're willing to allow as a society? Are you okay with a supreme authority? Apparently skul and some others are all for a police state? Maybe it's okay with you when citizens are executed for a scuffle. Maybe you are fine with whatever a cop says is true is so and your thoughts or protests are ignored. The point is that the fucking cop shot an unarmed man and lied about it under oath. That's against the fucking law and is a crime. No matter how shitty a person is they deserve justice when murdered. They don't deserve to have the law blatantly look the other way and then spit on the deceased. Michael Brown was not convicted of robbery! It had nothing to do with the shooting. Nothing. Wilson's perjury had nothing to do with the shooting. Had only to do with his thought that he is above the law.
It's almost depressing to see how far so many have fallen.
The question is what you're willing to allow as a society? Are you okay with a supreme authority? Apparently skul and some others are all for a police state? Maybe it's okay with you when citizens are executed for a scuffle. Maybe you are fine with whatever a cop says is true is so and your thoughts or protests are ignored. The point is that the fucking cop shot an unarmed man and lied about it under oath. That's against the fucking law and is a crime. No matter how shitty a person is they deserve justice when murdered. They don't deserve to have the law blatantly look the other way and then spit on the deceased. Michael Brown was not convicted of robbery! It had nothing to do with the shooting. Nothing. Wilson's perjury had nothing to do with the shooting. Had only to do with his thought that he is above the law.
So are you saying any unarmed man shot by police is murder? Are you saying that if I scuffle with a police officer, I shouldn't expect to get shot? Because I would think that if I was beating up a police officer, I have a good chance of getting plugged.
You mean when a news channel purposely edited the Zimmerman 911 call to make it seem like he was racially profiling?? Or when the current pictures of the deceased don't match the innocent black kid agenda they want to push so the only picture you see for weeks is his class picture from when he was 12?????
Or running with the story that Browns hands were up and he was shot in the back before any evidence was available???
Or even worse when they omit details from their reports like the fact the toxicologist stated that Brown had so much THC in his system he could have been hallucinating, and this could contribute to his bizarre behavior.. Kinda important piece of info right?
Don't believe it is just Fox News that is misleading its viewers...
You would..
look back to last page.. Had a good talk with a cop buddy of mine when I visited back home for the holiday:0074
I have a cousin who is a deputy, he says they are trained if there is any chance they feel life is in danger to shoot. Blood was in the car, 4 people testified that brown charged at him outside the car. I'm sorry, if I have fired my weapon twice already and a big dude doesn't care and is still coming at me, I'm fucking killing him cause his intentions are not to give me a hug.
If "Reverend" Al would just pay his fucking taxes, we could afford to re-build Ferguson:shrug::shrug::shrug:
No, I'm not saying that shooting an unarmed man is murder. However, Wilson didn't just shoot him, he unloaded 12 rounds at him. He chased him 150 feet shooting at him as he fled.
You guys don't get it. Michael Brown is dead. He's not on trial. His actions at the gas station were never on trial nor were they a factor in the shooting. The only thing you're supposed to be considering is the facts as they pertain to the shooting. The events of when Wilson rolled up on him to when he left the scene. That's it.
Gibber,
What are you talking about? These were reports that some still believe that Wilson had a fractured eye socket too.
I've smoked more put than most and there is no such fucking thing as hallucinating from it. That's crap and a ridiculous statement made by someone trying to muddy the issue. .
You keep bringing up Michael Brown as if he's going to testify to something or if his actions prior to the shooting would be somehow admissible at Wilson's trial. It had zero to do with the shooting. You say the media is leaving things out than how do you know about them?
I just can't fathom how people keep looking for excuses to make it okay for a cop to break the law.
If you hit a cop, getting shot is in the wheelhouse, but so is pepper spray, tazer, night stick. Getting the clip almost emptied on you isn't. Nothing about Brown's pictures, attitude, size, none of it matter. None. What matters is Wilson's testimony and the facts and testimony of the witnesses. Not a single witness statement, NOT Fucking ONE, jibes completely with Wilson's testimony.
The kid's body was fifty yards away from the squad car. Do you know how long it takes to go 50 yards with 3-4 rounds in you? Why did Wilson even exit the squad car after brown fled? You can protect yourself but you can't follow a person 50 yards shooting at them, he actually testified to pausing and thinking to himself "can I legally kill this guy", and claim you were so scared for your life you just shot.
It's bullshit and is murder
Here's the deal though, isn't he going to chase him to arrest him? Who says a police officer has to use pepper spray or a tazer? How do you know exactly what Wilson was thinking? Maybe he did perceive his life was in danger? Maybe the adrenaline goes off and maybe he thinks testimony is exactly how it happened but everything happened so fast that he has inconsistencies? Not one testimony matches Wilson's detail to a tee but there are several that are pretty damn close, and there are 4 who say Brown charged back at the police officer. There are many who said he shot Brown in the back? You say he was shooting at him as he fled, he must have been a pretty bad shot because he never had entry wounds from the back and then you can discredit all testimony by any of those who said he shot him in the back. There is enough evidence there not to put him on trial and too many inconsistencies to get a conviction. No fed indictment yet and it's very unlikely one is coming.
No, I'm not saying that shooting an unarmed man is murder. However, Wilson didn't just shoot him, he unloaded 12 rounds at him. He chased him 150 feet shooting at him as he fled.
The Daily Kos saying this doesn't make it true.
The Daily Kos saying this doesn't make it true.
Office Wilson is guilty as hell. Liberals are right about that.
He is guilty for having to take so many shots to hit such a big target.
Please send him back to the range for more target practice
He is guilty for having to take so many shots to hit such a big target.
Please send him back to the range for more target practice
