Black Lives Matters Rejects Suicide Ruling In Activist Found Hanging

Medical Examiner Deems Student’s Death A suicide

Let’s just start by saying that any time a black person is found hanging — it’s suspicious.

You may have heard about the case of 20-year-old Kendra Shanice Reid, a sophomore at WSSU in North Carolina who was found hanging at a park on April 28th. The medical examiner recently ruled her death a suicide. According to Winston-Salem Jourdal reports, Reid died from asphyxiation by hanging, according to her death certificate. Her body was found hanging in a wooded area of Finch Park shortly after 9 a.m. on April 28. The public park at 15 Paul Beck Road is just outside of Lexington, where Reid is from. Larry James, the Davidson County medical examiner and the county’s director of emergency services, ruled Reid’s death as a suicide. James said no autopsy was performed as a medical examiner can forego the autopys if death is determinable by an external examination.

Some people attempted to link Reid’s death to a video circulating on Facebook, but Reid’s mother Sophia Giles claims those rumors are not true.

In response to James’ suicide ruling, the Greater Atlanta Chapter of Black Lives Matter has released the following statement:

As President of Black Lives Matter Greater Atlanta we are compelled to express our outraged of the senseless death of our dear sister Kendra Shanice Reid 20, who was found hanging in a park.

We are deeply saddened and shocked to learn that yet another black body is lifeless. Kendra Reid was a 20 year old sophomore student at Winston-Salem State University in Lexington. She was loved by her community, her school and of course naturally by her family. After learning that Larry James, the county’s medical examiner ruled that the cause of death was a suicide. We know that couldn’t have been any further from the truth. Kendra was full of life, she loved her family, and she was an active member on campus and a member of the WSSU Marching Band who looked forward in graduating.

We expect second investigation to be conducted by an private independent examiner, and anticipate a thorough full criminal investigation to be launch by either The Department of Justice’s Office of Civil Rights and The FBI.

The black community in Lexington has little to no faith in Lexington Police Chief Mark Sink and his ability to execute a fair and complete investigation. This is why we takes to the streets, organized, mobilized and disrupt business as usual. Black Lives Matter Greater Atlanta we will continue to monitor this case with a close eye

In struggle,

Sir Maejor Page

President

Black Lives Matter Greater Atlanta

Do you think it’s possible that this young woman was murdered? Do you think the police and medical examiner have done enough to make sure that she was not murdered?

Photo Courtesy Greater Atlanta Chapter Black Lives Matter