Deputy fires shots during Tuskegee homecoming parade, circumstances uncertain
A sheriff’s deputy fired shots at a vehicle driven by the founder of an HBCU content platform after Buzz University creator Cameron Kelley ran over the deputy’s foot and didn’t stop before Tuskegee University’s homecoming parade over the weekend, authorities claimed.
Meanwhile, Kelley denied Macon County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Chris Johnson’s version of events, alleging he was only asking for directions when Johnson fired at his vehicle.
“Cameron was unarmed and completely confused by the officer’s LETHAL escalation for simply asking the officer about parking directions,” read a message posted to Buzz University’s Instagram account.
“Somehow there’s no news reports about the white cop shooting at an UNARMED Black man at Tuskegee University’s Homecoming,” the message went on to say.
The account also posted photos of what appeared to be bullet holes in Kelley’s vehicle.
Authorities’ version of the incident diverged from Kelley’s.
In a complaint filed in Macon County District Court, where Kelley was charged with first-degree assault, Kelley allegedly tried multiple times to drive down streets that were closed due to the homecoming parade.
When Kelley stopped his vehicle on West Montgomery Road, Johnson told him to turn around. But Kelley refused, according to Johnson’s account.
Johnson then asked for Kelley’s driver’s license and informed Kelley that he would be receiving a traffic citation.
Kelley then “turned his wheels to the left and accelerated,” running over Johnson’s foot, “and the vehicle continued to move toward Inv. Johnson’s body,” the complaint went on to claim.
Johnson then pulled his gun out of its holster “and fired approximately two shots into the driver door.”
Kelley was not struck by gunfire, according to the complaint.
Johnson was believed to have suffered broken bones in his foot “from being ran over by the vehicle,” the complaint said.