Taemon Blair reportedly died by suicide on March 16, according to police in Fort Wayne, Indiana. However, his grieving family is refuting those claims and believes someone lynched the father-to-be.
"We just want him to get justice. That's all we want. We just want to find out exactly if somebody did it who did it and why, and we want to open it back up to see," Dee Smith, Blair's older brother, said to FOX 46 Charlotte, where Blair lived.
Blair's death has received little media attention from prominent celebrities and activists, except for rapper T.I. posting about his mysterious passing on his Instagram page Tuesday.
Blavity reached out to Fort Wayne police to inquire about the case and was told, “Until the investigation is complete, the police department is not authorized to provide any further information regarding Taemon’s death.”
A GoFundMe page has also been set up by Smith, who penned an emotional plea for assistance in his brother's funeral costs.
"All of our lives we've had to struggle. In and out of foster homes, and group homes. Taemon went through a rough patch in his life. He went to jail for a year. When he got out he promised to change his life. He went and got his diploma. He had straight A's in HS. He has always been on the A honor roll. My brother finally got his life on track!"
Per Smith, Blair's colleague found him hanging from his neck in the back of his delivery truck. Initially, the unidentified witness believed the driver committed suicide, which is the same conclusion the Allen Country Coroner's Office came to in a brief and vague statement released Thursday about Blair's passing.
"The Cause of Death is Asphyxia due to Hanging, and the Manner of death is suicide," deputy coroner Christopher Meihls wrote.
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Smith is having trouble accepting that outcome and discussed his family's theories on the GoFundMe page, as well.
"But something in my heart told me that he didn't commit suicide. He was 6'5, I thought to myself, how could he hang himself inside of a truck when he's so tall," Smith argued.
Blair's passing has sparked the hashtag #JusticeforTaemon, with many on Twitter coming together to seek the truth in this probe.
This is Taemon Blair. Taemon graduated from his high school in Charlotte, North Carolina with straight A’s. Last week Taemon was lynched in Fort Wayne, Indiana. However, there are signs of foul play. Please share and let his name and story be spread ???????? #JusticeForTaemon
pic.twitter.com/NQj01CgRiC— Malik (@AugustaGAMack) March 27, 2019
A light was extinguished, and a bright future is being buried in the ground. This needs to be on blast! Please don't let this man's life and death be forgotten. Please don't let him become another meaningless number. #JusticeForTaemon ????
— RedNGoldRush (@magicwkr15) March 27, 2019
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