A woman aimed a gun at a Black man for simply asking a question. According to Nashville 5, Sherry McLain was leaving a Wal-Mart in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, when the incident occurred.
McLain, 67, was approached by a Black man who asked her for a cigarette lighter. Without answering the man, McLain grabbed her gun and aimed at him. As the man ran away, McLain shouted, “I’m going to shoot you, I’m going to kill you,“ according to witnesses. Several kids who were with their parents were also near the scene.
The man was able to find safety inside the store and called 911. When police arrived, McLain told authorities that she feared for her life. However, police were able to check a surveillance tape and discovered that the man had just purchased a box of cigarettes and was at least 10 feet from McLain when he asked for a lighter.
McLain’s unwarranted fear of Black people could have led to the killing of an innocent person. But it’s the same misguided fear that has caused poorly trained police officers to shoot and kill unarmed Black men. Whenever prejudices can provoke fear, it becomes dangerous when the person who lacks proper reasoning has the power to take a life.
The police eventually arrested McLain and charged her with aggravated assault and reckless endangerment.
