Elijah Dominic Weatherspoon, an 18-year old Black Puerto Rican man, went missing near the Ravenel Bridge in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 25, 2020.

Three days later, his body was discovered on a sandbar near Sullivan’s Island by the Fire Rescue squad. The story gained national attention as reports pointed out that Weatherspoon, known to friends and family as Nicky, was the only Black man amongst a group of seven white friends who went on that boating trip. He was also an avid swimmer, and eye witness accounts of his death were inconsistent.

Two petitions have circulated the internet with over 40,000 signatures, requesting the investigation around his death to be reopened as many suspected foul play.

One petition created by Laura Harwell on behalf of Weatherspoon’s mother pointed out the following conflicting accounts:

  1. Weatherspoon and another peer flipped off the boat, but a “Good Samaritan” was only able to save one of them;

  2. While the boat was docked, Weatherspoon jumped into the water and was unable to resurface due to his inability to swim;

  3. Another peer attempted to save Weatherspoon, but he panicked and later drowned.

Harwell stated that, despite the accounts, Weatherspoon was an experienced swimmer.

“We want answers,” Harwell wrote. “The news refuses to seek the truth and have stopped reporting, the Mount Pleasant Police Department refuse to investigate despite the numerous evidence that supports it wasn’t just a boating accident.

“This is clearly more than an accident,” she continued.  “Nicky deserves justice, and so does his family.”  

 


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