The legal definitions can be far removed from normal usage: in California “lynching” is when a crowd forcibly removes a suspect from police custody, which historically was often a prelude to what we would recognize as actual lynching (presumably it was defined that way so participants could be charged even if they were stopped before harming the victim). But it’s been used in more recent times to charge protesters with “lynching” for interfering with the arrest of other protesters.

He said Magee went to a nearby Walmart shortly before he died. That is where he is believed to have bought the rope found around his neck.

If this young man bought the rope himself, if there is evidence of this like surveillance video, that paints this situation in a pretty different light.

Edit: I want to be very clear that the police should be presenting any evidence they have of this. I would not take the police at their word. My comment here hinges on the report being true.

Brame told ABC11 that there were no signs of foul play in Magee's death.

Suicide and lynching can look similar. The officer said no signs of foul play first, then got a little too technical on the details of lynching as a response to speculation which probabky contained those details.

Yes, the response about specific details sounds ridiculous in a vacuum. But keep in mind that what he is saying is also a way to describe why a suicide isn't a lynching.

At least the police are reaching out to an external agency to hopefully provide some conformation on the circumstances.

I didn't realise lynching had to be done in a certain specific way.

Call it what you will, it’s a travesty and should be taken very seriously. But, this is the south, and most southerners love to mince words; especially when it comes to race and politics.

very high chances they were interrupted trying to hang him or the body afterwards. sheriff is a tool.

It's not a real lynching unless you know how to tie a proper noose. That means 13 loops.

"Special strangulation operation"

He obviously hung himself from the tree with nothing to stand on and then untied the rope as a precaution. You know, in case any kids walked by.

This could be funny if it wasn’t so sad. Reminds me of the episode in The Wire where the various departments wouldn’t take responsibility over the dead girls in the can because of they could t pinpoint where exactly they died and when. They care too much for the state. God forbid there’s a lynching and instead of admitting they have a problem they focus on cooking the stats.