Standing 5-foot-6 and weighing only 124 pounds, Bobby Tillman was known by friends as a charismatic guy who avoided conflict at all costs. But on Nov. 6, Tillman, 18, crossed the path of four teens who senselessly beat him to death at a house party in Douglasville, Ga.
According to reports, Tillman, who attended Georgia Perimeter College, was confronted by four teens after the party was shut down by the homeowners shortly before midnight. As teenagers left the house, two girls began fighting and punched a male. Angered over being punched, the male shouted that he would not hit a girl, but he would punch the next boy that he saw.
Tillman apparently walked past the boy, who proceeded to punch and stomp him along with three other males. After one minute of being beaten, Tillman rose to his feet, and then collapsed.
Four teens, Quantez Mallory, 18; Horace Coleman, 19; Emmanuel Boykins, 18; and Tracen Franklin, 19, were charged with murder. Tillman’s death is eerily similar to Derrion Albert’s death in Chicago in September 2009.
Teens teaming up to beat one person is being popularized in homemade viral videos that are featured on Web sites such as World Star Hip-Hop, Bossip, and Media Takeout. Known as ‘hood fights, these sites feature videos of mostly black teens fighting each other. Most of the fights are filmed as others in the background laugh and encourage the mayhem. The videos are examples of how self-hatred has become accepted in our communities. They are also encouraging teens to initiate fights that can easily turn into a deadly brawl. –a.r.
