Damien Pickett is the black co-captain of the Harriott II Riverboat seen being attacked in the Montgomery Riverfront brawl
Find out more about him.
Following an incident with the co-captain of a riverboat at a pier in Alabama, three boat operators are now facing charges of third-degree assault. The altercation started when Harriott II Riverboat Co-Captain Damien Pickett tried to push their boat aside in order to maneuver his larger vessel for docking.
Who is Damien Pickett victim in Montgomery riverfront brawl video as it goes viral on Twitter and Reddit and captain of Harriott II Riverboat
In response, the boat’s owners, Richard Roberts (48), Allen Todd (23), and Zachary Shipman (25), reportedly attacked Pickett.
The trio has been formally charged by the Montgomery Police Department with a misdemeanor offense, especially noting allegations linked to eluding law enforcement during a disturbance and probable hate crime charges.
Notably, the attackers were identified as white individuals, while the victim, Damien Pickett, is Black. Montgomery Police Chief Darryl J. confirmed that one of the suspects had turned himself into the Selma Police Department at a press conference. According to reports, the other two were on their way to do the same.
Chief Darryl J. said that Montgomery law enforcement decided to file charges against the relevant parties after working with the FBI. Unfortunately, it appears that the available evidence does not support any allegations beyond assault.
Since the incident, Damien Pickett has received a flood of support on social media, notably on Twitter. Several people are rallying around him, claiming that the fight in Montgomery wasn’t required and that the co-captain was only carrying out his duties as a member of the team.
Due to this, Pickett has become the talk of the town, with many people trying to learn more about him. So, here’s what we know about him:
Who is Damien Pickett?
Damien Pickett is a Black co-captain of the Harriott II Riverboat in Montgomery, Alabama. He found himself at the center of a disturbing incident when he attempted to navigate his 227-passenger vessel into its designated docking spot along the Riverside Park waterfront.
Pickett has African-American ancestry. He was subjected to an assault by a group of white men who had initially obstructed his docking attempts.
Videos of the event taken by witnesses and posted online show the disturbing moment as Damien Pickett had words with one of the white males before being brutally assaulted by a number of others.
Investigators looked into the possibilities of labeling the attack as a hate crime or riot instigation in reaction to the assault. Notwithstanding the racial factors in play, the FBI and local Montgomery Police Department authorities came to the conclusion that the evidence did not support these allegations.
This decision has sparked discussions about the interpretation of hate crime laws in a city with a history of racial tension.