Black Food Truck Owner Beaten by Man Yelling N-Word

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A Black food truck owner in Oregon who claims he sustained “severe” injuries in a brutal attack by an N-word-yelling assailant has engaged a lawyer to investigate the β€œsufficiency of the government’s response” after he was allegedly left to drive himself to the hospital.

In a statement family attorney Alicia LeDuc Montgomery said Darell Preston was on the phone with his wife and standing at his Portland food truck, LoRell’s Chicken Shack, on June 15 when he was viciously attacked from behind, “unprovoked,” and without warning by a white man he did not recognize.

According to Montgomery, the assailant continued to hurl heavy blows and utter racial slurs at Preston. Montgomery stated in the statement –

β€œThe Preston family is eager to pursue justice in this matter and is willing to assist in bringing those responsible to account.”

From across the street, a white man wearing a black jacket can be seen beating and trampling a Black man to the ground on video footage provided by Montgomery. Cars pass by, honking their sirens, as the assault on the sidewalk continues. After finishing, the man in the jacket strides away with his hands in his pockets as if nothing had happened.

Montgomery stated –

β€œMr. Preston suffered severe facial injuries.”

β€œPortland police arrived on scene but to the family’s knowledge, did not call an ambulance or provide medical care to Mr. Preston. Mr. Preston was driven to the hospital by [his wife] Mrs. Preston with his face wrapped in a shirt.”

However, a police spokesperson told Oregon Live that when officers arrived at the scene, they were informed by first responders that both the victim and suspect had fled. The spokesperson stated that officers located Preston in his adjacent food cart, but it took “several minutes” to convince Preston to leave.

Black Food Truck Owner Beaten
Black Food Truck Owner Beaten

Do you know that a Florida state attorney said on Monday (June 26) that he will not prosecute a white woman accused of shooting her black neighbor through the door? Susan Lorincz has been charged with manslaughter by firearm and assault in connection with the June 2 gunshot death of Ajike Owens:

Police say that after providing minimal information, Preston “locked himself in the cart” of the food truck and refused to provide additional information. Montgomery stated that Preston was too terrified to discuss it.

Several people have commented on the news on Twitter –

Police initially told they were not investigating the attack as a hate crime due to Preston’s refusal to discuss the incident, but this altered after detectives spoke with Preston’s family. Sgt. Kevin Allen of the Police Bureau said in a statement to The Daily Beast on Tuesday (27 June) that the case is being investigated as a hate crime, but no arrests have been made.

Allen said –

β€œAny arrest must be based on probable cause and will stand up to scrutiny in any future criminal court proceeding.”

β€œA misstep now could prevent justice from being served later, and we have dedicated and professional detectives working hard to do things right.”

Allen refused to disclose any additional information because it could “compromise” the case. Marc McDonald, the brother-in-law of Preston, launched a GoFundMe campaign on June 17 to raise money for LoRell’s Chicken Shack while Preston is unable to work. According to the page, Preston suffered from a “broken nose, fractured face, and lacerations to his eyes and mouth.”

McDonald said –

β€œDue to this attack, [Preston] will be unable to work his cart causing an obvious financial burden on himself and our family.”

β€œAll donations will be directly deposited into LoRell’s business account and used to cover Darell’s medical costs, legal representation, and other business costs associated with him being unable to work his food cart.”

β€œWe are deeply disturbed by this assault, which has left the community shaken and outraged.”

β€œHate crimes and violence of any kind create fear, anxiety, and a sense of vulnerability among community members.”

β€œOur thoughts are with the Preston family during this challenging time, and we stand firmly against any form of hatred, discrimination, and violence.”

This week, the Preston family intends to reopen LoRell’s Chicken Shack.

Neon-Martin
Neon Martin

Neon Martin is a talented content writer with a passion for crafting engaging, informative articles on a wide range of topics. With a keen eye for detail and a love of language, Neon has honed their writing skills over several years of experience in the field.Neon's work can be found on Focushillsboro.com, where they contribute insightful articles that explore the many facets of life in Hillsboro and the surrounding areas. Whether delving into local events, highlighting community leaders, or sharing tips on living a healthy and fulfilling life, Neon's writing always captivates and informs.

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