BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.–With protest signs in hand, members of the National Action Network chanted, “no justice, no peace,” outside of the Berkeley County courthouse on Thursday morning.
“This is just the beginning on this fight,” stated Elder James Johnson with the civil rights organization. “The crowd is going to get larger.”
Their signs read, “Repeal the Castle Doctrine,” “Thou Shalt Not Kill,” and “Loftis Needs to Be Jailed.”
They say they are protesting the recent jail release of James Loftis. The Goose Creek man is charged with the double murder of James Cody Newland and Guma Dubar. Police say he shot the two men multiple times after they entered his house, killing them. Authorities say he then burned their bodies and buried them behind his house on Pandora Drive.
“This was a murder, a blatant murder,” stated Johnson.
The attorney for Loftis reportedly plans to defend his client under South Carolina’s Castle Doctrine. Many people know this law as “Stand Your Ground.”
However, civil rights leaders stated that this law should not apply in this case, arguing that:
- Both men were unarmed.
- They claim previous reports state that the two men were shot execution style.
- They claim previous reports state that at least one of the victim’s was an acquaintance of Loftis.
- There was no reported forced entry.
“Mr. Loftis was engaged in an unlawful activity because he just robbed the cab drivers of their fare,” stated Johnson. “He did not shoot the unarmed victims because he was in danger, he shot them because he was avoiding paying the cab fare.”
Police confirm that the cab drivers demanded their money after taking Loftis home from a strip club in early March. After feeling threatened, police say Loftis stated, “I’ll get your money” and walked into another room to obtain a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun.” That’s when officers say he opened fire at least eight times.
“The Castle Doctrine does not give people the right to shoot unarmed citizens just because they are in their home,” stated Johnson. “If we have to take it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, we will do that,” stated Johnson.
Johnson also added that plan to send letters to S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson and to the U.S. Justice Department. The National Action Network wants them to re-examine when the Castle Doctrine applies to cases.
NAN chants outside Berkeley County Courthouse in Moncks Corner. @ABCNews4 #chsnews #scnews pic.twitter.com/meql1YbRwo
— Bill Burr (@BBonTV) May 19, 2016
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