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Jake Gardner: Bar owner kills himself after being charged in fatal shooting of unarmed BLM protester James Scurlock

As per reports, former Marine and bar owner, Jake Gardner, fatally shot himself near Portland hours before turning himself in on Sunday
UPDATED SEP 21, 2020
Jake Gardner (LinkedIn)
Jake Gardner (LinkedIn)

OMAHA, NEBRASKA: A White bar owner and former Marine, who was charged with killing a Black man during BLM protests in Nebraska, took his own life on Sunday, September 20, only hours before he was due to turn himself in. 

Jake Gardner fatally shot himself near Portland, Oregon after the authorities had received a call regarding a person with suicidal intentions, according to the Omaha World-Herald. Gardner was charged with four felonies for manslaughter, weapon use, terroristic threats, and attempted first-degree assault for shooting and killing 22-year-old James Scurlock on May 30. 

The police revealed how Gardner had shot Scurlock outside his bar while he tried to keep away potential looters during the protests and riots over the death of George Floyd. Surveillance footage reportedly shows, Gardner, his father, and protesters talking before Gardner flashes his weapon. Two people were seen tackling Gardner to the ground before he fired two shots leading to Scurlock jumping on his back. Gardner then fired at Scurlock and killed him with his death leading to more protests in the city. 

As per Omaha World-Herald, Gardner claimed Scurlock had him in a chokehold and refused to let go. The entire struggle is said to have lasted for 18 seconds after which Gardner fired over his shoulder, killing Scurlock. The police then took Gardner into custody and interviewed him. Under the guidance of a special prosecutor, a grand jury ruled out self-defense as a justification. 

Investigators initially decided not to charge him. Gardner had said that he had acted out in self-defense with his attorneys even clearing him to leave Omaha. During a press conference on Sunday, Gardner's attorney, Stu Dornan said, "Everyone in that room felt there was great risk to Mr Gardner if he stayed in Omaha."

Gardner had decided to leave town and go to northern California where "he did his best to recover from the trauma he was involved with that night." According to 3Newsnow, Gardner had suffered from two brain injuries and PTSD after being in Iraq. Dornan says Gardner had been doing his best to deal with the trauma from the night of the incident. He added that Gardner had told him that he thought he was in a war zone outside the bar, with all the violence and mass confusion taking place. 

He also said that Gardner was very upset and remorseful about the incident and had no idea what had happened to Scurlock initially. Gardner as well as his attorneys were shocked at the decision of the grand jury to indict him on charges given they were convinced that the shooting had been in self-defense. 

According to a special prosecutor, Frederick Franklin, the grand jury had reviewed some more text messages and social media messages which showed that Scurlock's killing had been "intentional." Franklin said, "There was significant evidence that was consistent with there being an intentional killing by Jake Gardner and that evidence comes primarily from him."

Some social media users took to the comments to say that Gardner's life mattered and offered their condolences. One such user had written, "Yes it did and so did his right to protect his business. No way those charges should have been leveled against him." Another social media user commented and wrote, "Man serves his country. Man goes home and opens bar to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Man defends what he built. Country attacks and abandons Man. What else is Man supposed to do? They f**ked with one of ours. This will not stand."



 



 

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