A White supremacist learned his fate after he killed a Black teen by using his car as a weapon.
In 2016, Larnell Malik Bruce Jr., 19, was taking a moment to charge his cell phone outside of a convenience store when Russell Courtier, 38, arrived with his girlfriend, according to the Portland Mercury.
At some point, words were exchanged between Bruce and Courtier and a fight ensued. Courtier smashed the teenager’s head into the store’s window.
Courtier’s girlfriend, Colleen Hunt, urged him to continue to abuse Bruce. But Bruce was able to pull out a knife in an attempt to protect himself. Once Bruce pulled the knife, Courtier and his girlfriend retreated to their Jeep.
Bruce decided to run home after the scuffle but was followed by Courtier, who was driving. A surveillance camera at the store captured Courtier as he sped up and hit Bruce head-on while driving his Jeep. Bruce was discovered on the ground by authorities and rushed to the hospital. He died from his injuries four days after being hit by Courtier.
It was later discovered that Bruce was a member of a White supremacist prison gang called the European Kindred. According to Portland Tribune, the European Kindred is one of the largest gangs in the Portland area. They are a deadly organization that is fueled by racism, hate and crime.
Courtier has a violent past and was once arrested for shooting from his car. But he dodged punishment because the police conducted an illegal search. He was also placed on probation for smashing a woman’s head into a windshield.
A grand jury indicted Courtier and Hunt for the murder of Bruce.
On April 17, 2019, a judge sentenced Courtier to life in prison for the racially motivated killing of Bruce. Courtier won’t have the possibility of parole for another 28 years.
