Sunday, October 10, 2010

The Shooting of Daniel Covington: Black Athlete Shot But Shooter Doesn’t Go to Prison

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse UniversityScholarship in Action 

Daniel Covington is a former football player for The University of Louisville. His recent shooting death has been the subject of controversy in the southern urban center of Louisville, Kentucky. Covington was shot at 2:30 a.m. in downtown Louisville, Kentucky on September 16. The shooter was Isaiah Howes, who happens to be a former baseball star for the same school as his victim. The shooting allegedly took place after Covington attacked Howe by reaching into his car and punching him. The incident occurred after a prior altercation at a local bar. Howe shot through his brother's hand and hit Covington in the torso. He died at the scene of the shooting.
The shooting of Daniel Covington has led to an uproar in the black communities of Louisville and nearby Lexington. Many residents are angry that the shooter has not been charged for the incident, in spite of the fact that many claim he left the scene. They also wonder why Howes chose to pull out a gun to shoot someone in a fist fight.
The attorney for Isaiah Howes says that his client was a victim as well. He argues that the shooting was in self-defense and that Howes had no choice but to use the gun. He also denies that his client used any racial slurs toward Covington, as some have indicated.

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