Family tensions boiled over at an Alabama truck stop Monday night when 51-year-old Anita T. Hill shot and killed her gay son’s boyfriend of four years.
According to Sgt. Dale Phillips of the Tuscaloosa Metro Homicide Unit, Hill met her son and the victim, 36-year-old Jamie R. Johnson, at a truck stop in McCalla to “talk about helping them move and other issues.” Witnesses report seeing the three engaged in conversation before Hill brandished a handgun and fired one round into Johnson’s back. He later passed away at a local hospital.
“Witnesses at the scene describe that it appeared that the victim in this case attempted to turn and move away from the suspect. At which time she pulled a hand gun and fired one round,” Phillips said. He also noted that Hill believed her son’s long-term relationship had become “violent” and “mentally abusive” at times.
Hill has been charged with murder in the case and has since bonded out of jail. Sgt. Phillips also notes that at this time, the crime is not being investigated as a hate crime because the department “sees this as a family having issues.”
Large Marge
“Sgt. Phillips also notes that at this time, the crime is not being investigated as a hate crime because the department “sees this as a family having issues.”
…and the issue they were having was that her son likes the D.
drivendervish
Of course it’s a hate crime, Sgt Phillips. Crazy mama wouldn’t have shot anyone if her son’s lover was a woman. It is so sad that in 2014 people are still killing people just because they’re gay in Alabama or Jewish in Kansas City. The individuals responsible for these murders are human trash that should be removed from society forever or how can we call ourselves civilized? Lastly, Way to Go NRA for brainwashing America out of common sense gun restrictions.
gskorich
@driven dervish: you don’t know that. the son probably called and told his mother his boyfriend was violent so she brought a gun to protect herself and her son. where else would she get that from. its sad when gay people assume crimes against gays are always done by gay haters.
xzall
@gskorich: We don’t have the whole story but according to a couple of news reports the two men were moving away together and the mother was meeting them at the truck stop to discuss the move and/or bring money to help them. This doesn’t sound like someone who’s kidnapped or trapped against his will. There’s no evidence that says the son called to ask his mom to protect him or ask her to bring a gun. He even reportedly tried to save the victim’s life before the ambulance got there.
Billy Budd
We need more information. I can’t decide if it is a het crime, but it is definitely a crime and nothing justifies murder.
Billy Budd
instead of het, read HATE
bnard620
We don’t know the whole story, but either way this is a sad story
James
@gskorich: Shot in the back while walking away? This lady isn’t George Zimmerman this is plain murder. I’m sure that on some level the sexuality had some kind of role in her motive to do what she did I don’t know how important that is at this point.
I’m more shocked that after the fact the police are trying to justify what she did! The cops made the statement claiming the victim was abusive? Even if we assume that were true the only reason they would have said that is if they were trying to cultivate a defense for murdering someone who’s walking away. Which I would say could be disregarded since I personally don’t believe there is a single just cause in murdering someone who is walking away.
Ridpathos
For all we know the mother could have been totally fine with her son being gay and might have been aware about it since the beginning, but maybe she really did shoot the BF because she believed he was being abusive.
money718
Yea, pretty hard to tell from the limited info.
EGO
Speculation is all we can do with this information, but….. Alabama is one of the least supported of gay rights and for now, I tend to believe it is a hate crime.
Mezaien
Run Forest run, get out of Alabama, the place that produce more white trash then any place on earth.
Cee
@gskorich: Either way, that’s not the right way to deal with the situation. If your adult son is being abused by another adult male you don’t shoot them when they turn their back lol Get a clue. Gun violence is not the answer, unless in self defense which is clearly not the case here.
Cee
@James: What are you saying? That George Zimmerman killing Trayvon Martin is not murder? Where do they breed you nut cases?