Black Man Charged In ‘Unprovoked’ Videoed Attack on ‘Unaware’ White Macy’s Store Manager

Charges were filed today in the attack of a white Macy’s Store Manager by a black man at the Genesee Valley Center in Flint Township, Michigan last week.

18-year-old Damire Palmer was charged with assault to do great bodily harm less than murder, a 10-year felony. Flint Township Police have been looking for Palmer and his brother in connection to the assault since it happened June 15th.

Video of the incident circulated social media for nearly two weeks after his brother posted it and was even retweeted by President Trump.

Looks what’s going on here. Where are the protesters? Was this man arrested?

Looks what’s going on here. Where are the protesters? Was this man arrested? https://t.co/2E1UbU5vNN

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 23, 2020

Many criticized the president for the retweet, with Mediaite tweeting out an article about it with the caption: Trump Directs People to Watch Random Black on White Violence Video Clip: ‘Looks What’s Going on Here’

Trump Directs People to Watch Random Black on White Violence Video Clip: 'Looks What’s Going on Here' https://t.co/9w6tFfU9p8

— Mediaite (@Mediaite) June 23, 2020

Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said, “This was an unprovoked attack. The internal video for Macy’s shows the suspect approaching from behind the victim. The store manager appears unaware that he’s even there.”

From ABC12:

As you can see in the video, Leyton said, Palmer sucker punched the store manager and knocked him to the floor. He can be heard repeatedly calling the manager the n-word and pushing him down as the manager asks him to stop.

“He’s shook up and he’s emotionally upset, as well as physically upset,” Leyton said. “But, he’s emotionally upset to think that, you know, anybody would think he said the alleged vile, racial, provoking slur; because he says he didn’t say it, and his history suggests he didn’t say it.”

Leyton added the two did talk minutes prior to the attack.

“The assailant said to the store manager — ‘Does this jacket fit?’ And the store manager said to him, ‘No, it’s too small,’” Leyton explained.

The store manager was on the phone at the time with a coworker out of state. Leyton said he finished his conversation while walking to a different part of the store.

“This was a cell phone to cell phone call, there is no recording of it. And the out of state witness who we interviewed said that he did not hear any such alleged provocation,” Leyton explained.