Black nationalist arrested for shooting officer in head receives wave of support
Thomas McDonald
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A black nationalist arrested for shooting a police officer in Florida is receiving a wave of support online from black nationalist group members and others who are anti-police.
“I want y’all to know something, man. I love y’all. I want y’all to know something, man,…I love y’all. Black Power. Stay strong as a nation. Keep f–king fighting. Move f–king forward,” said Othal Wallace in an Instagram video shortly after allegedly shooting a Daytona Beach police officer in the head and fleeing the scene. “Don’t let these p-ssy a– pigs f–k with you. I love y’all. Black Power and Shalom,” he added.
On a Facebook page believed to belong to Wallace, there were several public photos featuring the “Not F***ing Around Militia” dating back to July 2020. His Instagram account contained much of the same black power imagery.
“1 Day I Will Take Great Pride And Honor In Getting Me Some Pigs Blood On My Hands And Boots,” it reads. “I Pray Against My Enemy And Wish Death To All Who Are Oppressive To The Black Culture… Black Power !!” Wallace posted to his Instagram account on June 7.
Wallace has since been captured after hiding in a treehouse according to WFTV Daytona Beach. Police released bodycam footage showing Wallace resisting an officer’s instructions to step out of a vehicle during what police called a “proactive patrol.”
“How’s it going? Do you live here?” Raynor asks Wallace as he approached him inside his parked car.
The man, suspected to be Wallace, stood up and asked, “What’s going on?”
“Sit, sit, sit, sit, sit. Can you sit down? I’ll talk to you,” Raynor said.
Wallace responded: “Come on now. Come on now. Don’t do this. Why you asking me do I live here?”
The officer began to place one hand on Wallace’s shoulder and say something into his radio.
“Naw, back up man,” Wallace replied, attempting to walk away.
“Stop, stop, stop, stop, man” the officer said, his voice rising.
The video then becomes shaky and goes black shortly after a gunshot is heard. Police announced that the gunshot his officer Raynor in the head, who was left to die after Wallace fled the scene.
The wounded officer, 26-year-old Jason Raynor, remains in the hospital as of Friday in critical condition.
A GoFundMe was established for Officer Raynor’s medical expenses, entitled “Daytona Beach Officer Jason Raynor RECOVERY Fund.” The goal of the fundraiser is $300,000 and currently sits at around $192,000.
“This incident is not only physically traumatizing but emotional. This HERO has a long road ahead of him. DBPD is asking for your assistance in supporting his family during this difficult time. The set up of this GoFundMe page is for the sole purpose of providing assistance for the Raynor Family for his swift recovery,” reads the description of the fundraiser.
A GoFundMe was created in support of Wallace called “O-Zone Our Beloved Brother” but has since been removed. The original goal was to raise $444,000. Before being removed, it had garnered over $1,000 late Friday. While the manhunt for Wallace commenced, a wave of support for the suspected cop shooter began spreading across social media.
“Salute to the ‘GREAT OTHAL WALLACE’!!!!!!!! We hope that cr#cka in a cop uniform DIES ASAP,…Next time hit em in the head then 2 “Center Mass”! Don’t let em take You Alive King, Death Is Freedom. #OthalWallace,” tweeted one of Wallace’s supporters.
“The way that the cop harrassing #OthalWallace dropped to the ground looked more like a heart attack collapse than a gunshot collapse. Preexisting conditions,” tweeted an account called Othal Wallace’s Remaining Ammunition.
“Isn’t Florida a stand your ground state? Looks like Othal feared for his own life. #OthalWallace,” said one Twitter user.
“GOD GOT YOU cause we all going to WAR bout this one,” Shaun Raquel wrote on Facebook along with pictures of Othal and the #ProtectOzone.
“Watched the video of the alleged #OthalWallace shooting… it looks like self defense to me,” wrote another Twitter user.
“A kingggg #OthalWallace,” said another.
“Officer should’ve complied!! #OthalWallace#selfdefense,” tweeted another.