MUNICIPALITY OF PUNTO (WJRT) (06/26/2020) – The charges were filed Friday in the attack on a Macy’s employee at the Genesee Valley Center in Flint Township last week.
The video of the incident circulated on social media for almost two weeks.
On Friday afternoon, the Genesee County prosecutor charged Damire Palmer, 18, with battery for doing a lot of bodily harm less than murder, a 10-year felony.
Flint Township police have been searching for Palmer and his brother in connection with the case since it happened on June 15.
Investigators have not yet been able to question the brothers.
But on Friday afternoon, the Genesee County District Attorney moved forward with charges against one of them.
Why is Damire Palmer only charged?
Leyton explained that he received the case this week on Tuesday, after watching the video on Wednesday and speaking with additional witnesses, he said the evidence so far only points to assault and that there is only enough evidence to charge one person.
Leyton said the 18-year-old is the attacker in the 18-second video seen across the country on social media.
“This was an unprovoked attack,” he explained. “Macy’s internal video shows the suspect approaching from behind the victim. The store manager doesn’t seem to realize he’s even there. “
As you can see in the video, Leyton said, the fool from Palmer hit the store manager and knocked him to the ground. He can be heard repeatedly calling the manager the word n and pushing him down when the manager asks him to stop.
“He is shocked and emotionally upset as well as physically,” Leyton said. “But, he’s emotionally upset to think that, you know, anyone would think he said the alleged vile, racial, and provocative injury; because he says he didn’t say it, and his story suggests he didn’t say it.”
Leyton added that the two spoke minutes before the attack.
“The mugger said to the store manager, ‘Does this jacket fit you?’ And the store manager said, ‘No, it’s too small,’ “Leyton explained.
The store manager was currently on the phone with an out-of-state coworker. Leyton said he ended their conversation while walking to a different part of the store.
“This was a cell phone to cell phone call, there is no recording of it. And the out-of-state witness we interviewed said he did not hear any of those alleged provocations,” Leyton explained.
Leyton added that the only person who mentioned the manager who said anything inappropriate to Palmer was his brother, who posted the video on social media. The prosecutor said that this is not evidence.
“Even if there was verbal provocation, of which we have no evidence, the law does not allow violent retaliation,” he said.
The prosecutor has already met with members of the community on transparency, letting them know why he made this decision.
.
