Shaun King, the male Rachel Dolezal, maintains that he was viciously assaulted in 1995, by a dozen large white farm boys. According to Shaun's resume, the severe beating (one of Kentucky's first registered hate crimes) led to 3+ spine surgeries and permanent disfigurement.
The problem is... Shaun's story appears to be a wild exaggeration of the truth. Signed witness statements and court documents tell a much more believable story, albeit bland.
A veritable mountain of evidence has piled up that describes a one-on-one fight resulting in minor injuries. Shaun's response? Double down, baby! ALWAYS, double down.
Shaun's favorite testimonial to his asinine version of events is that of Shea Gold. Shea attended high school with Shaun, and claims to have witnessed the fight. Shea commented on the fight in two separate arenas, Disqus and Facebook, about a month apart, with the latter being the more commonly cited by Shaun.
However, when even a tiny amount of scrutiny is applied, Shea Gold's account of the fight doesn't add up. In fact, it's downright bizarre. But since Shaun continues to cite Shea Gold as amongst his BEST evidence, it's time somebody tear this nonsense to shreds.
The problem is... Shaun's story appears to be a wild exaggeration of the truth. Signed witness statements and court documents tell a much more believable story, albeit bland.
A veritable mountain of evidence has piled up that describes a one-on-one fight resulting in minor injuries. Shaun's response? Double down, baby! ALWAYS, double down.
Shaun's favorite testimonial to his asinine version of events is that of Shea Gold. Shea attended high school with Shaun, and claims to have witnessed the fight. Shea commented on the fight in two separate arenas, Disqus and Facebook, about a month apart, with the latter being the more commonly cited by Shaun.
However, when even a tiny amount of scrutiny is applied, Shea Gold's account of the fight doesn't add up. In fact, it's downright bizarre. But since Shaun continues to cite Shea Gold as amongst his BEST evidence, it's time somebody tear this nonsense to shreds.
1. Shea Gold's Facebook Post
Shea Gold
Unfortunately, it seems that several groups on the Internet are spreading lies about an event that happened at my high school while I was a student there. This is a problem for me, because they were not first-hand witnesses, nor are any of their sources.
I, however, was there and saw it happen.
I have been asked to post my memory of that day, which I am happy to do. It involves another student at the time, Shaun King.
I was a senior in high school and had just walked out of the band room when I saw Shaun walking towards me in the hall. For my entire high school career, I cannot recall saying anything more than 'hello' to him. However, this day no such exchange took place. Before it could happen, Shaun was quite literally ambushed by a large group of large people.
He never saw what hit him. He never had a chance. I didn't stop to count how many attacked him, but the number was easily in the neighborhood of a dozen. They were big white farm boys, all members of the FFA. Immediately a crowd formed while they stomped the life right out of Shaun, who couldn't have weighed much more than 100 pounds, if at all.
I remember not being able to get close, certainly not close enough to interfere. The attackers had formed a circle around the debacle and would not let anyone in. It stuck in my mind for years as the most disgusting thing I had ever seen.
It couldn't have lasted long. As soon as the chaos attracted the attention of two teachers, it was over and the attackers deftly dispersed. There was blood all over the floor.
I hung around in mute horror, not believing what I had just seen. I had had a fairly sheltered upbringing and my first brush with violence had left an impression.
So now, in 2015, various organizations on the Internet have taken the stance that this incident never happened. This view seems to stem from one specific article making the observation that the police account and public records of this incident do not coincide with Shaun's account. For example, the police report says there was only one attacker, not a dozen. It also states that Shaun's injuries were very minor.
What the article does not discuss is the political and social climate of that place and time, and how those factors had an effect on the fallout from this incident. This is Versailles (pronouced ver-SAY-els), Kentucky in 1995. I believe the population around that time was it about 6000 or so. When a minority gets almost beaten to death in a small rural town's high school, it is every civic leader's nightmare. In 1995, in Versailles, it could have potentially made national headlines, had the story gotten out. But unfortunately, it did not, and no residents of Versailles, Kentucky should be surprised. By this point in the reading, you should have surmised that any investigating officer would have felt heavy, intense pressure from all sides. The last thing Woodford County High School wanted was for this story to be on the front page of the local paper. You don't have to interview school administrators to know that. The city's elected leaders did not want this getting out because they wanted to keep their jobs. And the local police needed to keep a tight lid on this so that they would not look like jackasses.
So Shaun's injuries were downplayed to just a scratch in the police report. The FFA guys had planned ahead for one of them to take the fall for all. The investigating officer was happy to put that detail in his report. Nor was he eager to interview witnesses, having never asked me a single question.
When you read about incidents like these, it's very easy to imagine that details were left out, memories are hazy, things are made up. If you are having such reservations about this story, please understand that I have no agenda. I was not close with Shaun in high school, and I have not spoken with him since. I am in no way related to his efforts to combat racism. Nor was I ever close with his attackers. I relate my memories of this day only so people will know what really happened. I was one of a very few people that saw it with their own eyes.
There it is. It happened.
2. Shea Gold's Disqus Post
One month prior to the facebook post (as far as I can tell from the timestamps), Shea Gold tells a similar story, but is less confident on the details. Not surprising, given that it was 20 years prior.
shea gold 7 months ago
"I am part of Shaun's graduating class, WCHS, class of '95. I was walking through the halls of the school one day when I saw Shaun get jumped out of nowhere. I'm not sure how many people actually laid hands on him, but it was certainly more than one, most likely several. I also distinctly remember a circle of...'rednecks' forming a barrier to keep anyone else from interfering. It was clearly a planned and calculated ambush.
Shaun and I were never 'buds'. We always said hello in the halls and never spoke beyond that. Knowing what I know about law enforcement in the area, as well as my own recollections from that day, I can say with confidence that Shaun's version is EASILY the more accurate of the two.
I can think of a million reasons why the phrase 'hate crime' never came up. However, it certainly appeared as such to any casual observer. He sustained serious injuries that day. 2 years of surgery? I have no idea. But I do know that he got the crap beat out of him that day by a bunch of white farm kids that did not like black people. Also, I never heard anything about a police investigation and to my knowledge, no witnesses were ever questioned, myself included. Versailles is a peaceful town, but I can't imagine anyone was prepared to handle a situation like this in a dignified and just manner.
That incident had a big effect on the school, to my understanding---after we graduated, there were stories of armed guards, metal detectors and mandatory see-through book bags.
I remember really feeling for the guy. He never bothered anyone. He seemed like a nice kid. It also made me angry that my classmates would be so stupid and angry that I couldn't do anything."
3. Dissection
Many, many statements in Shea Gold's posts make his story difficult, if not impossible to believe. From Shea's mis-characterization of basic facts, to the confabulation of spectacular details... one has to wonder why he's trying so hard.
Unfortunately, it seems that several groups on the Internet are spreading lies about an event that happened at my high school while I was a student there. This is a problem for me, because they were not first-hand witnesses, nor are any of their sources.
Actually, Shea, within hours of the fight, numerous signed witness statements were obtained from students and teachers. Thus, the sources Shea is upset with ARE first hand witnesses. But Shea's account, 20 years after the event via Facebook, is a better source, right?
I have been asked to post my memory of that day, which I am happy to do.
First, it'd be nice to know who asked Shea to post. One can only wonder if it was Shaun King, calling in a favor. Second, let's give Shea a round of applause! This man finally garners the courage to speak up about this horrendous crime he witnessed 20 years before. He didn't even need to be prodded. Oops! Nevermind. He was specifically asked to post his recollection of the fight, by an unnamed source.
I didn't stop to count how many attacked him, but the number was easily in the neighborhood of a dozen. They were big white farm boys, all members of the FFA.
My my how the story has changed from the Disqus comments. Your EARLIER disqus comments stated that it was "certainly" 2 people, and most likely several. Now it's a dozen people! LOL. You've already made this too strange to be true. How can 12 people beat a single person? There LITERALLY isn't enough room for 12 people to stand around in a circle and beat one person.
The attackers had formed a circle around the debacle and would not let anyone in. Immediately a crowd formed while they stomped the life right out of Shaun, who couldn't have weighed much more than 100 pounds, if at all. I remember not being able to get close, certainly not close enough to interfere.
There were many high school fights in which I and my friends walked away saying... "Nah, I couldn't see anything." The crowd forms quickly, at which point all visibility is lost. You say many times in your testimony that you couldn't see, but then proceed to offer great details. Are you just blatantly lying for Shaun or have you actually convinced yourself over the years that this actually happened? Also, are you confusing attackers with spectators? Because this story sounds way more plausible when the "attackers" are simple spectators..
It stuck in my mind for years as the most disgusting thing I had ever seen.
Again, way to have the courage to speak up 20 years later... after an anonymous source prompts you to do so.
Shaun, who couldn't have weighed much more than 100 pounds, if at all.
Shaun brags about carrying guns and drugs at this very same time of life. Yet, you portray him as a feeble innocent child. So who is lying, you or Shaun?
There was blood all over the floor.
A bloody nose can look like a murder scene to a band kid who has never seen a fight before. Just saying... this says absolutely nothing about the extent of the injury(s). Great appeal to emotion though!
I hung around in mute horror, not believing what I had just seen.
I think it's pretty clear that you didn't see anything but some blood on the floor.
I had had a fairly sheltered upbringing and my first brush with violence had left an impression.
You don't think you might be blowing this out of proportion?
What the article does not discuss is the political and social climate of that place and time, and how those factors had an effect on the fallout from this incident.
Here comes the big conspiracy theory! Students (including Shea), teachers, police, physicians, judges, Shaun's mom, etc. Everyone was in on it!
When a minority gets almost beaten to death in a small rural town's high school, it is every civic leader's nightmare.
There is literally no evidence that Shaun was beaten even moderately. Keith Broughton interviewed Shaun in the ER that same day, and described very minor outward injuries. So, it's safe to say you're being extremely dramatic and loose with the facts.
In 1995, in Versailles, it could have potentially made national headlines, had the story gotten out. But unfortunately, it did not, and no residents of Versailles, Kentucky should be surprised. By this point in the reading, you should have surmised that any investigating officer would have felt heavy, intense pressure from all sides.
Keith is the same guy to which Shaun's mom wrote a thank, right? Also, why is there no mention of a coverup until after 2010? This is the NEW story. Nobody mentioned anything about a coverup back then. Furthermore, even the most extensive coverup in history would not have prevented Shaun or his family from taking a few Polaroid pictures of his horrendous injuries.
The city's elected leaders did not want this getting out because they wanted to keep their jobs. And the local police needed to keep a tight lid on this so that they would not look like jackasses.
Wait. What? How did the elected leaders hear about it? I thought this was a coverup. Why are they relaying it up the chain of command? This has quickly devolved into a poorly written crime fiction. I'm still confused why you're writing in all these details, 20 years later, at the behest of an unknown source.
So Shaun's injuries were downplayed to just a scratch in the police report.
Shaun got in a car accident. Someone took a picture of him with his face all cut up. He now has it on his Twitter background, prominently on display. If Shaun had such horrific injuries from the highschool fight, where are the pictures? Sure the ER got their orders from up high to destroy the evidence, but what about Shaun and his family? Why didn't they document his horrific injuries with home video or pictures? Let me guess, the local Walgreens was in on it too. There was an "accident" when they tried to develop the film.
The FFA guys had planned ahead for one of them to take the fall for all.
Shea is literally making things up now. Ask yourself, where on earth did Shea get this info?Was he at this secret FFA meeting? Was it secret? Where was it held? Did he overhear them in the hallways? How can Shea make this extraordinary assertion without even a shred of evidence and expect anyone but a cretin to believe him? Yes, THIS is the witness account that Shaun repeatedly shares, as evidence that he was severely beaten, with racial intentions.
The investigating officer was happy to put that detail in his report. Nor was he eager to interview witnesses, having never asked me a single question. When you read about incidents like these, it's very easy to imagine that details were left out, memories are hazy, things are made up.
I... I... just... can't .... deal with all ... this stupidity. Shea, why are you doing this to yourself? You just explained how memories become hazy. Keith interiewed witnesses just after the incident, when memories weren't hazy, and wrote it down for safe keeping. You, at the behest of someone unnamed, post your witness account 20 YEARS LATER... and suggest that your account it to be more believed than the original signed affidavits. Are you insane?
If you are having such reservations about this story, please understand that I have no agenda.
I think you clearly showed your agenda when you fabricated the "FFA guys had planned ahead for one of them to take the fall for all" sentence. No really. Explain how you can say that with such certainty.
I was not close with Shaun in high school, and I have not spoken with him since.
Who asked you write this, as you stated at the beginning?
A CHALLENGER APPEARS: Det. Keith Broughton
Shea further posts under the comment section here at the Daily Caller. A very enlightening exchange occurs after Shea trashes the whole town, calling it a massive racist cover up. Keith Broughton, the actual investigating detective (!), shows up and starts dismantling everything Shea has said.
Highlights are as follows:
Keith was at the ER with Shaun and his mom.
Keith interviewed witnesses, including staff and students.
Keith attended the disposition hearing in which the defendant plead guilty and was ordered to reimburse Shaun's mother for expenses.
Shaun's mom wrote Keith a thank you letter for all his hard work.
Keith clearly states that there was no evidence that it involves more than one person, had anything to do with race, or involved more than minor injuries.
"I [Keith] am the officer you [Shea] said that only saw one attacker and wanted to make less paperwork for himself."
"Shaun was NOT bleeding all over the place, not writhing in pain, not on any kind of medical monitoring equipment, was coherent, conscious and spoke to the police with great ease. I am sure he was sore and may have had internal injuries, but he NEVER conveyed that to the detective or the court."
"When I spoke with Shaun, he was not beaten to a pulp, did not display any signs of excruciating pain, did not have the appearance of someone that had been beaten by a mob. He had visible minor injuries and he stated that he had pain in his ribs and face. He was sitting on a bed, possibly propped up, conscious and alert, responding to me and having a conversation."
Detective Keith Broughton Responds In Great Detail via Facebook
Keith Broughton I want to try to give a little different perspective on some of the things that have been discussed in this issue and appreciate Shea giving me that opportunity. First let's state some facts that cannot be disputed. On March 1, 1995 Shaun King was assaulted at the high school and did receive injuries that required medical attention. There was a large group of people present that witnessed it. When I did my investigation for the report, I made several observations while I was doing it. First, I noticed that Shaun had 'Apparent" minor injuries. This was based on my observation that he had trauma to his face, redness and abrasions, and that he was complaining of rib and back pain. My initial report and the basis for the criminal charge that was filed were based upon what I OBSERVED of Shaun's APPARENT injuries. Shaun indicated to me that he had pain that I could not see and that is noted in the report. I do not know what the extent of the injuries that Shaun complained of were, as that information was never forwarded to me later to determine if a more severe charge was warranted. Could Shaun have had more severe injuries than what I observed? Absolutely yes. The criminal charge that was filed was based upon the information I had at the time and elements listed in the Kentucky Revised Statutes for an Assault offense. The charge was adjudicated at a later date and there was not info of more severe injuries presented to the Court by Shaun or his mother to be considered for upgrading the charge against the accused. The person charged was ordered to pay restitution to the King's, perform community service, and complete their GED. I want to emphasize again that although the suspect was charged with minor aggravated assault, that does not mean Shaun could not have had more serious injuries. Concerning where I listed his ethnicity on the report, it again is based on observation. Those of you that know Shaun are aware that he has a light complexion. When I met him and his mother, Kay, at the emergency room, I noted for the reporting purposes on the report, that Shaun was white. It was a reasonable assumption given that his mother is white. I could easily have noted that he was black if he had been sitting there with a black parent. The purpose for noting it has more to do with FBI Crime Reporting statistics than anything else. Finally, concerning if this was a gang assault or not. At the time of the report, NO ONE indicated to me that this was more than a one on one fight. I was called to the school 40 minutes after the incident occurred and was provided the names of students involved, some students who witnessed it and the name of the teacher who witnessed the fight and broke it up. I recently found out about the gang beating allegation when these recent articles about Shaun came to light and these media inquiries began. I have located several statements from people who support the gang assault story was well as those who say it was one on one in the file of the lawsuit that was filed against the school. Could this have lead to more charges being filed against other people? I don't know. The teachers statement that she saw Shaun being assaulted only by the offender would made it extremely difficult to charge someone else. Does this mean Shaun or the other people lied about this? No. If you put one hundred people in a room and send a pig running through it wearing a dress, you may end up with 100 different versions of what happened. Does that make any of them wrong? No. My responsibility here was to take the information I had at the time, obtain statements from known witnesses and learn of his injuries to determine if a crime had been committed and to see if someone could be prosecuted. I did that.
August 21 at 3:32pm · Edited · 4
August 21 at 3:32pm · Edited · 4
Shea's Disqus Post 1 Month Prior
Original (7/21/2015 11:58 PM)
https://disqus.com/home/discussion/thedailycaller/leading_ferguson_activist8217s_hate_crime_claim_disputed_by_police_report_detective/#comment-2150298780
I'm not sure how many people actually laid hands on him, but it was certainly more than one, most likely several.
One month later, in your Facebook post, you say, "I didn't stop to count how many attacked him [Shaun], but the number was easily in the neighborhood of a dozen." Why the new confidence? Moment of clarity recalling that 20 year old memory? You would be torn to shreds in court with this bullshit testimony. What the hell does "laid hands on" in this context even mean? Assault? Restraint? Healing?
I also distinctly remember a circle of...'rednecks' forming a barrier to keep anyone else from interfering.
This is EXACTLY how every highschool hallway fight proceeds. A crowd immediately forms a circle. They're spectators you idiot! Yes, it's possible they are combatants, but you've provided ZERO evidence of such.
It was clearly a planned and calculated ambush.
This is going off the rails pretty quick. How the hell does Shea know this was planned and calculated? Because they formed a ring around the fight... like 99% of all highschool brawls? Furthermore, planned fights take place AFTER school, in the parking lot, or off school grounds to avoid administrators.
Knowing what I know about law enforcement in the area, as well as my own recollections from that day, I can say with confidence that Shaun's version is EASILY the more accurate of the two [stories].
Version 1 - Shaun got in a one on one fight in the hallway. Spectators formed around the fight. His nose was bloodied. The end.
Version 2 - Large farm boys plan and ambush Shaun during school (why not after?). He is nearly beaten to death. Only their "fall guy" gets in trouble. The entire town, including students, teachers, police, hospital workers, and journalists cover up the story. The true story is first told in Shaun King's college admission personal statement.
You're right Shea! One of these stories is more easily believed.
I can think of a million reasons why the phrase 'hate crime' never came up. However, it certainly appeared as such to any casual observer.
Appeared as such to any casual observer? How do you know? Did you interview the casual observers? Detective Keith Broughton did. He took signed statements from them. You, however, prefer to retrospectively project your own thoughts onto everyone. Better throw out the witness statements, just ask Shea Gold!
He sustained serious injuries that day.
Go ahead, Shea. Explain what injuries he suffered. Try to be specific. The police report noted minor injuries. Detective Keith Broughton goes into great detail describing the appearance of Shaun when they met in the ER hours after the fight. But fuck what he has to say, Shea Gold says Shaun "sustained serious injuries that day".
Also, I never heard anything about a police investigation and to my knowledge, no witnesses were ever questioned, myself included.
Remind us why we should be taking your word as truth again? There WAS an investigation. There ARE signed witness statements. See the Daily Caller documents.
I remember really feeling for the guy. He never bothered anyone. He seemed like a nice kid. It also made me angry that my classmates would be so stupid and angry that I couldn't do anything.
See image right. You and Shaun King should compare notes on the 1995 Shaun King. Clearly, there's a discrepancy.
https://disqus.com/home/discussion/thedailycaller/leading_ferguson_activist8217s_hate_crime_claim_disputed_by_police_report_detective/#comment-2150298780
I'm not sure how many people actually laid hands on him, but it was certainly more than one, most likely several.
One month later, in your Facebook post, you say, "I didn't stop to count how many attacked him [Shaun], but the number was easily in the neighborhood of a dozen." Why the new confidence? Moment of clarity recalling that 20 year old memory? You would be torn to shreds in court with this bullshit testimony. What the hell does "laid hands on" in this context even mean? Assault? Restraint? Healing?
I also distinctly remember a circle of...'rednecks' forming a barrier to keep anyone else from interfering.
This is EXACTLY how every highschool hallway fight proceeds. A crowd immediately forms a circle. They're spectators you idiot! Yes, it's possible they are combatants, but you've provided ZERO evidence of such.
It was clearly a planned and calculated ambush.
This is going off the rails pretty quick. How the hell does Shea know this was planned and calculated? Because they formed a ring around the fight... like 99% of all highschool brawls? Furthermore, planned fights take place AFTER school, in the parking lot, or off school grounds to avoid administrators.
Knowing what I know about law enforcement in the area, as well as my own recollections from that day, I can say with confidence that Shaun's version is EASILY the more accurate of the two [stories].
Version 1 - Shaun got in a one on one fight in the hallway. Spectators formed around the fight. His nose was bloodied. The end.
Version 2 - Large farm boys plan and ambush Shaun during school (why not after?). He is nearly beaten to death. Only their "fall guy" gets in trouble. The entire town, including students, teachers, police, hospital workers, and journalists cover up the story. The true story is first told in Shaun King's college admission personal statement.
You're right Shea! One of these stories is more easily believed.
I can think of a million reasons why the phrase 'hate crime' never came up. However, it certainly appeared as such to any casual observer.
Appeared as such to any casual observer? How do you know? Did you interview the casual observers? Detective Keith Broughton did. He took signed statements from them. You, however, prefer to retrospectively project your own thoughts onto everyone. Better throw out the witness statements, just ask Shea Gold!
He sustained serious injuries that day.
Go ahead, Shea. Explain what injuries he suffered. Try to be specific. The police report noted minor injuries. Detective Keith Broughton goes into great detail describing the appearance of Shaun when they met in the ER hours after the fight. But fuck what he has to say, Shea Gold says Shaun "sustained serious injuries that day".
Also, I never heard anything about a police investigation and to my knowledge, no witnesses were ever questioned, myself included.
Remind us why we should be taking your word as truth again? There WAS an investigation. There ARE signed witness statements. See the Daily Caller documents.
I remember really feeling for the guy. He never bothered anyone. He seemed like a nice kid. It also made me angry that my classmates would be so stupid and angry that I couldn't do anything.
See image right. You and Shaun King should compare notes on the 1995 Shaun King. Clearly, there's a discrepancy.
Conclusion
. As proof of Shaun's outlandish claims, Shaun never cites police reports, his own court records, or provides material evidence (pictures, medical records). Instead, he points to facebook posts from confused (if not biased) strangers. Shea Gold's testimony is Shaun's pride and joy. Shaun couldn't have written it better himself. However, the whole story wreaks to high heaven. Any objective analysis of Shea Gold's comments suggests he is some combination of naive, confused, and/or lying.
Sources
Shea Gold's Facebook Post (8/19/2015 7:35 AM)
https://www.facebook.com/shea.gold.7/posts/10207491583438631
Shea Gold's Disqus Post (7/21/2015 11:58 PM)
https://disqus.com/home/discussion/thedailycaller/leading_ferguson_activist8217s_hate_crime_claim_disputed_by_police_report_detective/#comment-2150298780
Shea Gold's Disqus Account (5 comments)
https://disqus.com/by/sheagold/
Detective Keith Broughton's Disqus Account (13 comments)
https://disqus.com/by/disqus_ewJGgzjDrM/
Daily Caller with Documents Regarding the Court Case
http://dailycaller.com/2016/02/19/new-documents-raise-questions-answer-others-about-shaun-kings-past/