#JusticeforRobertFuller: Black man found hanging from tree in Palmdale feared lynched, but cops say suicide
PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA: The body of a young black man was found hanging from a tree earlier this week in Palmdale by a passer-by near 9th Street and E. Ave Q-10 near City Hall, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. First responders from a nearby fire station responded to the scene and determined the man was dead. The man was later identified as 24-year-old Robert L Fuller. Lt Brandon Dean of Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said that all indicators point to a suicide, but investigators are waiting for full autopsy results and information from the man's next of kin regarding past issues with mental illness.
The Palmdale public and the internet slammed the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for its quick conclusion of suicide and demanded a full investigation into Fuller's death on June 12. Palmdale Mayor Steve Hofbauer acknowledged that "we should have stated it better" that the finding is "preliminary", while adding, "but we were going off of what the coroner was telling the sheriff".
Many people have taken to social media to demand a full investigation, trending #JusticeForRobertFuller, including Kim Kardashian West. One user tweeted, "SAY HIS F***ING NAME. Robert Fuller was found hanging from a tree in Palmdale, CA at Poncitlán Square and the police automatically ruled it as a 'suicide' and it is getting no media coverage either. They are attempting to link it to Covid-19 as well #JusticeforRobertFuller." Another wrote, "A black man was found hanging from a tree near City Hall in Palmdale, California, and local authorities say that 'all indicators point to a suicide'. That claim is going to need some serious validation. #JusticeforRobertFuller."
One user tweeted, "A black man was found hanged outside of city hall in Palmdale, CA. The authorities passed it off as a suicide and immediately linked it to Covid-19 with no evidence. There is no note. The family wants an investigation. This should be on the news. #JusticeforRobertFuller." One asked, "They lied about Breonna Taylor having no injuries in their report. They lied about Tamir Rice threatening people with a gun. They said George Floyd had many medical conditions that led to his asphyxiation... Now they call this a suicide without proof?" A user stated, "IN THE MIDDLE OF CITY HALL. IN FRONT OF THE FLAG. THIS WAS A STATEMENT. THIS WAS MURDER. NOT SUICIDE."
Many believe Fuller was lynched. One user wrote, "I absolutely REFUSE to believe that a black man hung himself from a tree. Suicide my a**! It was a homicide, and we all know it. Give his family the answers they deserve!" Another opined, "Suicide ??? Mental health issues???? NO THIS IS A LYNCHING STRAIGHT UP IN OUR FACE." One user tweeted, "A black man’s choice of suicide would never be to lynch himself for public display. Try again PALMDALE," while another shared, "The idea that a black person would *lynch* themselves is the biggest lie white supremacy has ever tried to sell us #JusticeforRobertFuller."