JUSTGeorgia would argue that Brown was obviously culpable in his own death because he failed to wear protective headgear while bicycling and attempting to defend himself.
Police arrested an Augusta teenager Wednesday afternoon in connection with the death of an older man who died during the weekend following an altercation over a bicycle.
Tai Ming Cooke, 15, will be charged and tried as an adult, according to Richmond County sheriff's Investigator James Kelly.
Police said Mr. Cooke punched Lloyd Brown, 54, in the face after the two argued over a bicycle about 11:30 p.m. Friday, near Mr. Brown's 12th residence near Laney-Walker Boulevard and Mauge Street. The punch caused Mr. Brown to fall and strike his head on the sidewalk, police said.
After the altercation, police said Mr. Brown refused medical attention, went home and was found dead Saturday morning in his residence by a landlord.
Mr. Brown died of head injuries ultimately caused by the punch and the fall, Investigator Kelly said.
Richmond County Chief Deputy Coroner Mark Bowen said he pronounced Mr. Brown dead about 9:30 a.m., at the victim's home.
"He had bleeding in his brain and a bruise on his head which was consistent with a fall (to the ground)," Mr. Bowen said.
Mr. Cooke faces felony voluntary manslaughter charges, police said.
The teenager is 6 feet 1 inches tall and weighs 170 pounds, investigators said.
"He's a big teenager," Investigator Kelly said. He was formerly a student at Westside High School and an alternative school, police said.
Authorities credited neighbors for providing information which led to the teen's arrest.
"Mr. Brown was a well-known person in that neighborhood," Investigator Kelly said.
Reach Timothy Cox at (706) 823-3217 or tim.cox@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
JUSTGeorgia would argue that Brown was obviously culpable in his own death because he failed to wear protective headgear while bicycling and attempting to defend himself.
Let me be the first to say the fight was not over a bike. The fight was over cocaine. That is what "well known" means.
There's certainly not much information in this article concerning guilt or innocence of any potential charge. I guess the extenuating circumstances will come out in court.
Well known in your household may mean drugs, but what a butt hole to muddy the name of a person, that you do not even know. More than likely he will not be convicted of this charge, but a lesser one.
I agree hypocrite, he could be well known for helping neighbors, why does it have to be negative. I think the charge is a bit steep from what i'm reading. Not to blame the victim but he refused medical treatment and why was he arguing over a bike with a child. And my 14 year old is in the house well before 11:30 pm even on Friday.
As the article is printed, I agree with J4.
Well the reasone the charge is high is so they can get a good Plea-bargin... The public defenders are probably lined up outside his cell wanting to take his case. The system realizes that criminals aren't educated from the judicial aspect, well at least they aren't before they go to prison, and they prey off their lack of knowledge.
The kid may have been the ultimate reason for the death, but the man refused medical treatment. Had he of gotten medical treatment, I bet the odds would have been in favor of an uncomplicated life versus death. Don't think the kid should be charged in this case.
I bet the man refused medical treatment cause he had drugs in his system.
I bet if we all keep betting and guessing and thinking and wondering, we'll end up knowing just as much as we did before.
I bet he refused medical treatment because he was a vampire.
No, Wait! I bet he refused medical treatment because he thought the doctors would steal his soul!
No wait! I got it! He refused medical treatment because he is actually not a man, but a piece of furniture!
Give the "I betchas" a rest...
sonewall...Good post..
Why all the slander? Article does not give enough evidence to judge. However, a 15 year old that is 6-1 170?!?!?! What the hell are they feeding these kids???? THat's a big kid.
Unless there is evidence not mentioned in the article, the charges will probably not stand. The prosecution usually aims high. I would enjoy being this kid's defense attorney for one reason... Had the victim been given medical attention, which he refused, he may not be dead today.
Get the punks off the streets!!
Granted the older gentleman refused medical treatment. But for the injury sustained during the fracas, he would not have had to have medical treatment. The vlountary manslaughter charge comes as a result of the punch that was thrown and caused the older Brown to hit his head. Whie he may not have meant to kill the man, Cooke's action led to Brown's death.
15 year old quit high school and alternative school. Out at night at 11:30pm. Fighting a 54 year old. Souinds like a thug to me by the facts that have been printed. The older man may have not wanted medical care because he did not think he was seriously injured.
What does the size of the 15 year old have to do with anything.
You have a 54 yr old man arguing with a 15 yr old kid. Whatever cause the altercation between the two happened and the man refused medical attention for whatever reason, he refused. I don't think the 15 yr old should be charged either.
No one has the right to hit another person at any time for any reason. Period. If you do, you are liable for the results. Send the kid to jail for as long as possible.
I agree with dani, sonewall. Good Post! U r funny yet right. "I betchas" and "what ifs" are like death, debt and taxes. No matter what u do or say, they will always be there- walking hand in hand with a shadow of doubt. Be blessed and Be well 2day, Folks.
Doesn't anyone see anything wrong with a 15 year old putting his hands on his elders? Hello! This is a disrespectful thug. My children KNOW better then to raise a hand to their elders. Why wasn't this little murderer taught that? Doesn't matter what they were arguing about. If the punk had not hit the elderly man, the elderly man would not of hit his head and DIED. Common sense tells you the punk is the cause of death.
A 15 year old who has already been in enough trouble to have been put into alternative school SHOULD have some strict supervision, but of course what should be doesn't always happen. Mutual respect should exist between older and younger generations, but again what should be doesn't always happen. This is a sad case on both sides; a 15 year old will spend time in prison and a man is dead. It is my contention that a district attorney should NEVER be allowed to make a plea bargain in a case involving violence against another person, but again what should be doesn't always happen. IT will be interesting to see if justice is really served in this case.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T is what it all comes down to.Some of our youth don't have any!!
amen !!! devilish
I don't understand why lawmakers don't come up with a special category of laws to deal with teenagers and high crimes.
To all of you who believe this innocent man is the cause of his own death let me say this to you...
THINK ABOUT IT!!!
Helloooo!!!! Let''s not forget about the 12-year-old hoodlum that knocked on the door of an innocent 65-year-old man in the Harrisburg subdivision off Eve Street, and as part of a gang initiation cold-bloodedly and execution style and at point-blank range, shot and killed an innocent, elderly man. This man's house was randomly chosen by the 12-year-old thug along with his adult accomplice.
These bad-ashe kids have absolutely no respect for authority and they have no respect for YOU!!! So if you're ever accousted by one of them and he blows your freakin' brain out over something as small as a piece of bubble gum or a bicycle, then we'll be on this very same post theorizing the exact same thoughts about you - (he should've, could've would've or " I betchas...")
THINK ABOUT IT!!!
What was this 15 year old doing running the roads at 11:30 at night? Where are his parents?
The blow to the head did not kill the man, but his refusal for help did. In my time, even the hardest of what we called bad boys would try to respect their elders, or anyone else thought to be physically inferior or impaired for whatever reason. And if a fight happened it was a fair fight that lasted only a couple of minutes. The winner would stop before his opponent had enough and tell him it was finished because they really didn't want to hurt each other. I don't know if the deceased provoked the fight, or even taunted Cooke, but I do know that Cooke could have used restraint. But hindsight is 20/20 and so is "could have, should have." As for Cooke's size, well, I was about his size when I was 15. I grew to be 6'4' and 170 by the time I was 18. My 14 y/o son is about Cooke's size now. Size doesn't matter much because there are some pretty strong short guys who could have done the same thing. What does matter is that Cooke shouldn't have been out at 11:30 at night. What happened to that curfew they were talking about a couple of weeks ago? One life wasted, and another lost over a bike!
sonewall, brownskin, robert50, devilishlymad67, and coastDawg you all are right. this is not a kid, on the street, fighting, and probably kicking [filtered word] at home with his parents who probably are out of control of this "6.ft 1 inc boy. when the system look into his home training they most likely would find that the apple did not fall far from the tree. I wonder if his parents are college educated, alcohol and smoke free and good role model???????
Regardless of what the fight was over, a man is dead and this big kid should pay for it if he is responsible. If he wants to carry himself like an adult then he should be treated like one.
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