3 months ago
A check for $600 dollars and a standing ovation from a congregation of strangers. It was an unexpected expression of support for a 19-year-old Brian Milligan and his family Sunday, who earlier this summer, wondered if anyone cared that their son nearly died from an attack by African American teens using a concrete brick as a weapon.
"It showed me that a lot of people care. I appreciate it a lot," said Milligan.
Milligan's family believes the attack was a hate crime because their son, who is white, is dating an African American girl. Both were teased about their interacial relationship a week prior to the attack. Last week, Buffalo police arrested three African American teens for Milligan's attack, but none were charged with a hate crime.
"The alleged incident that took place a week earlier, where comments were made, these are not the same individuals, we know this through our investigation, they are not the same individuals," said Deputy Chief Daniel Derenda on Tuesday.
"It may not be a hate crime in the letter of the law, but it was a hateful crime," said True Bethel Church Pastor Darius Pridgen, who leads a prodominately African-American congregation. He and Milligan's family believe the city would have reacted differently if the races were switched around.
"They were cowards for hitting him from behind," said Milligan's father, Brian Milligan Sr.
Milligan thinks a witness to the attack can convince the district attorney's office to charge the teens with a hate crime. He believes the witness heard the teens use racial slurs during the beating, but he's got to find that person first. "It's time to stop being scared because... just think if this was one of your kids or relatives."
The teens arrested are 18-year-old Donte Lee, his 16-year-old brother Antoine Blackmon, and a 13-year-old boy whom police are not identifying because of his age.
WGRZ / wgrz.com
