New developments in possible lynching case out of North Carolina
At a one-year memorial service for Lennon Lacy at Bladenboro's First Missionary Baptist Church on August 28, North Carolina NAACP president Rev. Dr. William Barber and attorney Al McSurely informed mourners that there have been some developments in the case.
Lacy, a 17-year old West Bladen High School junior, JROTC member and football player was found hanging from a swingless swingset in a mostly white trailer park on August 29, 2014. The death was quickly ruled a suicide despite the fact that the belt used to hang him did not belong to the youth and he was wearing shoes that were not his own.
Following public outcry over the case, and spurred by a report from an independent medical pathologist hired by the North Carolina NAACP that raised questions about the thoroughness and conclusions of the local probe, the FBI is now investigating.
Developments:
Two people approached the NC NAACP with information suggesting the death was not a suicide, and were referred to law enforcement. Reverend Barber told the mourners that he has spoken to new US Attorney General Loretta Lynch, a North Carolina native, about the case. He said he believes there will be more attention devoted to investigating the case under her leadership.
Claudia Lacy, Lennon's mother, was interviewed by the FBI "about a month ago," McSurely told the gathering. "There is some indication they're developing a renewed interest in this," he said. There has also been an offer of $25,000 from someone outside of North Carolina to be used as reward for information in the case. The offer is now being vetted by the FBI.
A poignant new song release "The Ballad of Lennon Lacy" from the NC Music Love Army came out last month. The Love Army is a musical collective inspired by the Moral Monday protest movement led by the NC NAACP and Rev. Barber. The song was written by Charlotte songwriter Jon Lindsay and features Grammy winning Carolina Chocolate Drop singer Rhiannon Giddens, with help from former 'American Idol' contestant Charly Lowry, Dark Water Rising, the Backsliders, Caitlin Cary, Eddie Walker, Skylar Gudasz and Brett Harris.
Check it out on iTunes!