The Manhattan district attorney filed murder and terrorism charges against James Jackson on Monday. The sword-carrying racist traveled the NYC just to kill a homeless Black Man. The rarity of being charged with terrorism comes because of Jackson, 28, traveling all the way from Baltimore, MD just to scout and kill a black person on the streets of New York. Terrorism charges are usually federally reserved for suspects who engage in massive attacks. However, in this case, prosecutors found Jackson guilty of assault on racial freedoms after he confessed to killing the homeless man.
Man, brutally stabbed
The suspect roamed the streets of New York for 72 hours intentionally trying to find a person to assassinate. The person had to be an American of African descent for him to pursue the killing. After prowling horrendously, he chose to murder an innocent black homeless man. On March 20, 2017, Timothy Caughman was attempting to recycle bottles when Jackson pulled a 26-inch sword out of his coat and stabbed him in the back and chest. Law enforcement felt that Jackson had thoughts of attacking other people but instead chose to turn himself in.
Killing racially motivated
Police said Jackson told them that he hated black people for at least a decade. He said after being admitted in Riker’s Island that his mission was to bring warning to interracial dating between black men and white women.
District attorney, Cyrus R. Vance, said in a statement, "James Jackson prowled the streets of New York for three days in search of a black person to assassinate in order to launch a campaign of terrorism against our Manhattan community and the values we celebrate. With total presence of mind, he acted on his plan, randomly selecting a beloved New Yorker solely on the basis of his skin color."
Police Chief William Aubrey stated while he was arresting Jackson, “The reason he picked New York is because it’s the media capital of the world, and he wanted to make a statement.”
Jackson told The New York Daily News that he is a fan of the Daily Stormer — a website frequently visited by Dylann Roof.
Roof is the gunman that opened fire in a church in South Carolina and killed nine black worshipers in 2015.
Vance noted that New York has a reputation of being a media capital. Jackson came to the Big Apple because it’s a melting pot for millions of people and a variety of cultures. He said because of these reasons New York became the place Jackson wanted to deliver his message of hate.
Vance wrote in the indictment process, "We must never take for granted New York's remarkable diversity. We must celebrate it, protect it and refuse to let violence and hate undermine the progress we have made.”
Jackson has been charged with first- and second-degree murder as acts of terrorism. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment April 13.
