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Sheriff releases surveillance video of Javion Magee
The Vance County Sheriff's Office in North Carolina released video Monday, supporting its claim that the death of a Chicago man was "not a lynching."
BELLWOOD, Ill. - The Vance County Sheriff's Office in North Carolina released video on Monday showing a Chicago area man purchasing rope before his death last week.
Javion Magee, 21, of Bellwood, was found in North Carolina near his truck last week, leaning against a tree with a rope around his neck, according to local authorities.
The Vance County Sheriff’s Office initially told Magee's family that he had died by suicide. However, as doubts emerged, Sheriff Curtis Brame announced last Friday that the case was being investigated further, with the FBI now involved.
Magee's family pressed investigators for transparency, believing that critical details in the timeline were missing. They traveled to North Carolina after police told them Magee had purchased the rope at a local Walmart before his death.
The family insisted that Magee had no history of mental health issues or a criminal background and was excited about his future, having recently obtained his commercial driver’s license.
On Monday, authorities released surveillance video showing Magee purchasing the rope at a nearby Walmart.
Though Magee was from the Chicago area, he worked as a truck driver and was in Henderson, North Carolina, making a delivery to the Walmart distribution center.
A preliminary autopsy showed no signs of foul play.