Hate, Violence, and Death on Main Street USA - National Coalition ...

HATE, VIOLENCE, AND DEATH ON MAIN STREET USA2008Pontiac, MichiganA Group of Teenagers Attack Two Homeless MenAugust 26: Three teenage boys between the ages of 14 <strong>and</strong> 15, who all attended Jefferson MiddleSchool, attacked two homeless men in a span of three days. Two of the boys were identified asThomas J. McCloud Jr., <strong>and</strong> Dontez Marc Tillman. The first victim, Wilford Hamilton, died of headinjuries a couple days later when he was taken off life support. Another homeless man, HeffernHoffman, 65, was attacked the following day, he became unconscious from the beating <strong>and</strong> wentinto a coma. He was brought to the hospital to undergo surgery. On October 14, Hoffman died afterbeing in a vegetative state since August.According to Kevin Braddock, the police spokesman, “just the severity of the crime, the injuries,they’re brutal for juveniles”. After they attacked the two homeless men, they also attacked twopedestrians. The pedestrians’ ages were 33 <strong>and</strong> 52. The three teenagers were caught, <strong>and</strong> werecharged with the first-degree murder of Wilford Hamilton. Thomas McCloud, who was charged inthe killing of Heffern Hoffman, was charged as an adult in the beating death of Mr. WillfordHamiton. Both teens are currently being held without bail. If convicted, the boys could face life inprison.St. Louis, MissouriHomeless Man Killed at Bus StopAugust 31: A homeless man who appeared to be in his 60’s was attacked during the night at a southSt. Louis bus stop. The man, who has yet to be identified, died, <strong>and</strong> may have suffered a heartattack during the attack. Gregory Bean, who witnessed the attack, saw that the victim was punchedin the head <strong>and</strong> in the stomach. The perpetrator of the crime has not yet been identified.SEPTEMBERNorth Little Rock, ArkansasHomeless Man Beaten to <strong>Death</strong> with Baseball BatSeptember 27: Homeless man Anthony Patterson, 50, was found beaten, bloodied <strong>and</strong> dead onMain St. of the upscale Argenta section of North Little Rock. Police followed a trail of blood to thehouse of Donald Scott Grace, 50, <strong>and</strong> found him with blood still on his clothes <strong>and</strong> the bloody bat inthe foyer. According to Patty Lindemann of Hunger Free Arkansas, Grace was arrested <strong>and</strong> chargedwith pre-meditated murder.However, after the crime was committed, the Argenta community was outraged at the bail postedfor the crime. North Little Rock District Judge Jim Hamilton set Grace’s bail at $25,000, which wasone of the lowest for a homicide in the local court’s history. It was one of only two bails set below$100,000 for a homicide since 2006. Currently charged with first-degree murder, Grace awaitstrial.67