Photo / APThe sheriff's department ruled the hanging a suicide; Jones' family believes he was lynched. Jones' family refuses to accept the sheriff's ruling and is asking that the case be reopened. According to a police report, O'Bryant told an officer that Jones said he was going to kill himself just before he walked out. Jones' family says O'Bryant was prejudiced against Jones because of his race and didn't approve of his stepdaughter dating a Black man. One reason Lee said investigators felt Jones' death was a suicide is that O'Bryant himself comes from a multiracial family.

Source: New Zealand Herald May 23, 2021 20:37 UTC