Half-Brother Of Black Man Found Hanging From Tree Killed By California Deputies

The half-brother of Robert Fuller, the African-American man who was found hanging from a tree in Palmdale, California last week, was shot and killed by Los Angeles County deputies in a shootout over an alleged kidnapping.

Deputies were tracking the whereabouts of Terron Jammal Boone, Fuller's half-brother, over kidnapping, spousal assault and assault with a deadly weapon this week. According to Fox 11's Bill Melugin, authorities had been searching for Boone after he allegedly kidnapped a woman and held her against her will “for several days.”

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said authorities caught up to the alleged suspect and attempted to stop his car in Rosamond, California around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday (June 17). It was here that Boone opened his car and started shooting at the officers.

Deputies returned fired and killed Boone in the process. A woman who was in the car with Boone was shot in the chest but is expected to survive. A 7-year-old girl was uninjured during the shootout, said Fox News.

The Department added that the woman in the car was not the spousal assault case, while Boone's relationship to the 7-year-old girl is still not clear.

“This afternoon I had to notify the sisters of Robert Fuller that their half-brother Terron Jammal Boone was killed by Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies in Kern County.

“At this time, until we receive all of the information, the family and their legal team don't have any further comment on this incident. The family respectfully asks that their privacy be respected,” said lawyer Jamon Hicks, through Fox 11.

Fuller, 24, was found hanging by his neck from a tree around 3:39 a.m. on June 10. Homicide investigators found “no signs of struggle,” which led them and city officials to rule his death a suicide due to “emotional despair” brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Many people are suffering extreme mental anguish and the City wants everyone to know that help is available,” said The Daily Beast, citing a statement from City Manager J.J. Murphy.

The verdict on Fuller's death however raised some questioned from critics. They pointed out that authorities were “quick” to say that he died from suicide, while activists claimed that Fuller could have been a victim of “lynching,” a premeditated extrajudicial killing that is often characterized by "informal public executions."

Fuller was the second African-American to be found hanging from a tree within two weeks. On March 31, the body of 38-year-old Malcolm Harsch was also found hanging from a tree near the Victorville City Library.

San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Jodi Miller said there were no indications of foul play.