Dinner and an Attempted Murder Equal an Alleged Hate Crime
Arrested in the middle of his home-cooked dinner last Monday, Walton Henry Butler of Port St. Joe, Florida, appeared irked at the interruption, according to a probable cause affidavit.
He did not understand the problem, Butler told Gulf County Sheriff Nugent. “I only shot a n#@@%$.”
Police say that Butler, a 59-year-old white man, had used similar slurs toward children in his Pine Ridge apartment complex. Everett Gant, a Black man, arrived at Butler’s home that night to speak with him about the complaints.
As told to local police, Butler subsequently shot Gant in the face with a .22 caliber handgun, shut his sliding glass door, called 911, finished cooking his supper. He then ate his dinner.
“Butler was sitting at the table and acted as if it was an inconvenience when he was asked to stand up and handcuffs were put on,” reported the arresting officer.
WMBB-TV reports that Butler delivered the 911 call in a very matter-of-fact manner.
"This man came in and threatened to kill me and I just shot him,” said Butler. “I need ya'll to come and pick him up.... He's moving out there, he's on my back patio."
Butler is being held without bond while the state attorney’s office waits to file charges. WJHG reports that Gant is in guarded condition and expected to survive.
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(Photo: huffingtonpost.com)