Reginald Butler, a 41-year-old Black man from Adams County, Mississippi, is facing felony aggravated assault charges after a violent encounter that many say was a clear case of self-defense.
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On July 11, Butler was riding his bicycle when a group of white men allegedly attacked him near a party. Video footage shows him being shoved off his bike and beaten. After escaping, Butler went home, retrieved his legally owned firearm, and later encountered one of the attackers again. He was reportedly assaulted a second time—this time on a bridge—where he fired several shots in fear for his life, hitting 27-year-old Hayden Pounds in the chest.
Despite state and federal investigators concluding Butler was not the aggressor, local authorities charged him, claiming it was based on “the totality of the circumstances.” The decision has sparked backlash, with many accusing the system of racial bias and calling for the charges to be dropped.
