Burning of Black Called Hate Crime
Authorities Tuesday labeled the torching of a black man in a New Year’s Day robbery a vicious hate crime, saying white gunmen used racial slurs as they doused him with gasoline and set him ablaze.
As deputies released composite sketches of the suspects, Christopher Wilson, 31, was recuperating from a three-hour skin graft Tuesday at Tampa General Hospital. He was listed in serious but stable condition with second- and third-degree burns over 40% of his body.
“Since this has been elevated to a hate crime under the Florida statutes, we are proceeding toward a full-blown civil rights investigation,” said Oscar Westerfield, assistant head of the Tampa FBI office.
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