A disturbing racial hate crime was recently reported in Texas, allegedly motivated by a desire for revenge against individuals who served on the jury of a high-profile murder trial.
The victim, a woman from Longview, Texas, was attacked by three women on June 20 after having drinks at a local bar. According to eyewitness accounts, the victim was walking back to her vehicle when she was suddenly jumped by the women, whom she had never met.
The victim suffered severe injuries, including staples on her head, a neck brace, and a black eye. During the attack, the perpetrators allegedly screamed "Free Karmelo!" and bragged about targeting "the smallest white girl they could find." The victim reported that she never interacted with the women and never looked at them.
Following an investigation, the first suspect, a 21-year-old woman from Longview, was arrested on Tuesday and booked into the Gregg County Jail. Two other suspects, both 21 years old, turned themselves in to law enforcement on Thursday.
All three women have been charged with assault causing bodily injury. The charges come in the wake of a murder trial, in which a high-profile defendant was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
The defendant, who was convicted of murdering a 16-year-old track and football star in April 2025, will be eligible for parole after serving half of his sentence. Several black Americans were reportedly outraged by the verdict and decided to seek revenge against individuals they believed served on the jury.
One such incident was reported in Florida, where a man was attacked by a stranger who demanded to know why he was on jury selection. The victim suffered a severe injury and was left recoiling in pain.
The alleged perpetrators of the hate crime in Texas have been taken into custody, but the incident highlights the ongoing issue of racial violence and retaliation in the United States.
