An extremely wealthy white teenager was found not guilty months after the gang-related killing of 21-year-old Justin Holmes, a black man, in Los Angeles.
Cameron Terrell, a resident of the ritzy Palos Verdes Estates, was reportedly driving the getaway vehicle involved in the fatal encounter. In addition to his acquittal for first-degree murder, the 18-year-old, who ironically wants to be a lawyer, was also found not guilty on two counts of attempted murder, reports ABC 7.
The other gang members involved, who are both juveniles, are awaiting trial.
According to the Los Angeles Times, prosecutors argued Terrell was a gang member who drove two other gang members into "rival gang territory." During the incident on October 1, 2017, the two other passengers slaughtered Holmes in broad daylight.
Holmes, a U-Haul employee, was off work when he was walking with two friends when two teenagers approached them and asked which gang they claimed.
Holmes denied any affiliation with a gang; his friends ran off, and he was shot and killed.
Terrell's family posted $5 million bail, and the privileged teen was released one week later.
He was able to return to classes at Palos Verdes High School, but when parents were concerned about the safety of their children, he switched to off-campus courses.
Imagine if Justin was driving and gang members killed Cameron; the outcome would have been very different.
Defense attorney Jovan Blacknell argued, “Cameron Terrell did not possess any weapons, he did not shoot anybody, he was not part of any conspiracy, or any plan or plot. At best, the evidence suggests that Cameron was a witness.
A witness?
And get this: Terrell will be attending the University of Houston in the fall and plans to go to eventually go to law school, according to NBC. He has a “newfound love” for the law.
We're sure Holmes had plans, too.
In the CBS video below, Terrell said a few words to the press:
"I want to say rest in peace, Justin Holmes. He shouldn't have died that day. I pray for his family every night. This has been weighing on me every single day of my life."
He later added, "I don't have to explain myself to anyone."
But the gag is, no explanation was ever needed. You're young, rich and white.
And you know what will never have to "weigh" on you, Mr. Terrell? A jail sentence.
Now, check these out:
We've Confused White Privilege With White Power For Too Long, But It's Time To Call It What It Is
It's Not Our Job: An Open Letter To Well-Meaning White People Who Might Be Racist But Aren't Sure
