Photo: Jackson County Sheriff's Office
The white man accused of killing a Black man after allegedly harassing him with a racial slur outside a Missouri business isn't facing any murder charges. According to Kansas City Star, Sean W. Tonkin, 36, was charged with disturbing the peace, a misdemeanor, in the fatal stabbing of 42-year-old Jon “Mike” Rone Jr.
Police reports say Tonkin and Rone fought outside Liquor Land, a gas station and liquor store, at 14306 E. U.S. 40 in Kansas City on July 4. Authorities claim Tonkin used the N-word "in a hateful and racially-motivated tone." One woman even alleges he asked her, "Do you wanna see a white man f**k up a n*****?"
The 36-year-old then called Rone the slur, leading to the confrontation outside the business. Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators shows Rone, who's holding a club, following Tonkin outside the store. The 42-year-old stumbled into the store soon after, saying "he stabbed me" before collapsing. https://www.binnews.com/content/2023-03-08-black-man-dodges-jail-time-after-killing-racist-attacker-in-self-defense/
Tonkin was later arrested and charged with disturbing the peace and felony drug possession after police reportedly found less than a gram of methamphetamine on him. Rone's friends and family were shocked to learn prosecutors didn't charge Tonkin with murder, believing he was the aggressor in the situation.
They're also angry that Tonkin's a $2,500 bond away from being released into the public again.
Mike Mansur, a spokesman for the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, told Kansas City Star that Tonkin could face additional charges once they "examine who started the incident, what weapons were used by the people involved and Missouri’s law on self-defense."
“These factors will direct whether further State charges regarding Mr. Rone’s homicide can be filed,” he continued in a statement to the newspaper, adding that they're aware of the racial elements. “We have filed the available Missouri charges that address those racist comments which were made to Jon Rone in a face-to-face manner.”
Reporters noted that Missouri's robust self-defense laws may prevent prosecutors from pressing murder charges. Under a state statute, someone can lawfully use lethal force if they "reasonably" believe it's necessary. This also includes situations if said person is the aggressor.
“I just don’t buy it,” Misty Beck, Rone's girlfriend who was present the night he was killed, told reporters. “The way that man walked up, called him all those names. Yeah, Mike could’ve turned the other cheek. But why? Why should he have to?”