On November 16 on the Gil Gross program on KGO-AM 810, I heard a man from the NAACP referring to the two people killed by Shannon Edmonds as “unarmed children”. He also referred to the incident as a “drug deal gone wrong”.
Both of these statements are untrue, at least according to published accounts. All three of the perpetrators were adults 21 years and older and the two deceased were armed with a shotgun and a ball bat. It is my understanding of the facts of the case that Edmonds was awakened at around 4:00 am when he was hit in the face with a shotgun butt while lying in his bed. What sort of “drug deal” starts in that manner?
Additionally, it is alleged that Edmonds” female companion was beaten by none other than Renato Hughes and that her son (a minor child) was beaten to the point of permanent brain damage by one of the others.
It appears that Hughes” best interests are not being well served by his legal defense. From what I have been able to ascertain from the news media, there has been no attempt by the defense to bargain a plea. Perhaps if the defense were willing to make an admission of at least some measure of responsibility in the death of the other two men or for the home invasion, assault and attempted robbery of the Edmonds household, the prosecution might consider a reduced charge.
The defense apparently places its hopes entirely on getting a jury willing to believe that this is a racist prosecution of an innocent man. Should it fail to get such a jury, Hughes may well go down for first-degree murder.
Wellman Moody
Clearlake
