JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Barbara Anderson-Young says she's pleased with the capital murder charge against Deryl Dedmon in her brother's death. But she's certainly not satisfied.
"We do believe Judge Bennett did error in charging (John) Rice with only simple assault. I have only one thing to tell the media, go to Brandon Mississippi and get those other five murderers who committed such a horrendous violent act against my beloved brother, James Craig Anderson!" she said at the Jackson office of her attorney, Winston Thompson.
49-year-old Anderson was killed in the early morning of June 26 outside the Metro Inn on Highway 80. District Attorney Robert Smith has said that two vehicles containing several people pulled into the parking lot. Anderson was allegedly beaten. Surveillance video shows the victim walking along Ellis Avenue after that beating, then authorities say Dedmon's truck shined his lights on Anderson, ran him over, and kept going.
The murder charge was upgraded because new evidence indicates Dedmon also robbed Anderson.
3 On Your Side asked Smith if he understood that Anderson's credit card was used in Forest, Mississippi. "That is possible," Smith says. "Without describing exactly the facts of the robbery, that is the basic charge."
It's labeled a hate crime because Smith believes Dedmon set out to harm a black person. The teens reportedly used racial slurs during the incident. "What generally happens under state law is the alleged hate crime will factor into the sentencing," Smith says.
Federal investigators have stepped in at Smith's request.
It's unclear if any of the other teens will face charges, apart from Dedmon and 18-year-old Rice. Rice is charged with simple assault for allegedly kicking Anderson during the beating.
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