NEWS . Philly Blunt

Murder, in Black and White

Why a Fairmount murder should be considered a hate crime.

Published: Aug 15, 2007

Update: The verdict is in. (Click here)

The Chinese-takeout joint and basketball courts near 30th and Jefferson just weren't cutting it on March 23, 2006. So three young friends set out to find something better to do.

The first stop was on 26th, where Quinzell McCall, George Graves and Dawud Thomas dropped by Quinzell's aunt's house. They'd emerge with a loaded .357-caliber German-made revolver with black tape holding its handle together.

Quinzell, 16, handed the gun to George, who stuck it in his hoodie. They all crossed the street and went inside the rec center, where they met three boys they barely knew. Unfamiliarity didn't stop Brian Crosland, Malik Loper and Dimitrius Tadlock from going along, though.

Ranging in age from 13 to 16, the six made their way south into Fairmount to play a game called "Who can catch the most bodies?"

So into "the white neighborhood across Girard" they went and, having passed a "white person" with whom they exchanged words but didn't rob, they walked up narrow Stillman Street. Crosland threw a bottle through an elderly resident's window, and the sound sent neighbors scurrying.

As the six fled, a neighbor ran to get her teenage son and his friends around the corner. After yelling up the street that "we'll get you white motherfuckers," the North Philly boys split up and regrouped a few blocks away. But when they got to 27th and Parrish, they were cut off by Robert Pierson, a lanky, athletic 17-year-old who smashed a Parrot Bay coconut-rum bottle he'd pulled from a recycling bin over Dawud's head. Robert's friends were streaming up Parrish Street behind him, and brawls were breaking out everywhere.

Then, according to at least one of his friends, Quinzell pulled out the gun that George passed off a few minutes earlier. He pointed the barrel at Robert and thrice exerted the 12.5 pounds of pressure necessary to fire before sprinting north on 27th and dumping the weapon under a car near the North Star Bar.

Quinzell, all five friends now say, won the game.

Because Quinzell, they admit, caught the most bodies.

As he emerged from the holding area off Courtroom 601 in the Criminal Justice Center 16 months later, Quinzell McCall hardly looked like a murderer. He didn't look remorseful, either. Sporting a blue button-up dress shirt and tan dress pants, he's a wide-eyed kid who briefly let a smirk cross his face before sitting down at the defense table last Monday.

He watched as six whites and six blacks were selected for the jury and told Judge Carolyn Engel Temin he'd like one last chance to talk to his mom about whether he should accept a plea that would land him behind bars for at least 17.5 years. Three weeks shy of his 18th birthday, Quinzell decided against it, which was just fine by Bobby Pierson, who doesn't have the luxury of visiting his son in prison. Even though Bobby was worried about the risks of a jury trial, 17.5 years just didn't seem fair, so he told Assistant District Attorney Carmen Lineberger to go to trial.

"Hold him accountable for the body he caught," Lineberger would forcefully implore in her opening arguments. "For the life of Robert Pierson."

Defense attorney David Nenner, an affable guy who sounds like a sports-talk host, countered that it "was a lot of idle talk by six young teens" who panicked when confronted by a white mob. Besides, they'd do anything to save themselves from hard time. "The commonwealth tightened its grip, and friends turned on friends to save themselves. All five got a get-out-of-jail-free pass and threw that young man under the bus."

In one sense, Nenner was right: Cooperation translated into dropped charges for everybody but Quinzell, who's facing life. During the next three days, each child testified for the prosecution, as did several police officers who listened to the youths' admissions; Robert's friend; his still-grieving sister who also had to speak at the trial of a gunman who robbed her a few months later; and a woman who says she saw Quinzell dump the .357 after telling George he "got" Robert.

(With a bullet tearing through his neck and esophagus, Robert would succumb three weeks later on Easter having never regained consciousness. The bloody clothes he was wearing would be set aside as evidence on property receipt No. 2648873.)

First up was George, a tall, steely-eyed kid who recounted punching "what's his name? Rob?" after the bottle smashed over Dawud's head. "I ran, but then I heard three gunshots and saw him on the ground," he continued. "Then, I heard the gun drop. I asked him did he get him." To which Quinzell said, "Yeah."

The next day, George continued, Quinzell's mom came by his house and "told me to stick to the story that Quinzell gave police." They'd blame Malik, the new kid in the 'hood. "I just said a'ight."

That "a'ight" earned him a thank-you card (since destroyed) and some money on his prison books. "He's my best friend," explained George, who relented during the investigation. "I didn't want to see him get locked up."

Over the next two days, Malik (now on juvenile placement for a separate robbery), Dawud (who said Quinzell and George also told him to blame Malik) and Dimitrius (who knew they were going to "jump somebody for no reason") would pin the blame on Quinzell. This, despite Nenner's diligent efforts to point out that they didn't actually see a trigger pulled.

Though this was a case involving a youth who died at the hand of other youths in a neighborhood not used to such violence, the trial seemed relatively rote until Brian Crosland took the stand. Depending on who you believe, Brian was either "high" on the stand (Nenner); failed by a putrid culture and education system (me); or "the way [he] think[s] is different than everybody else" (himself).

Infuriating survivors, he giggled, constantly swiveled in the witness chair, made faces and hid his eyes behind evidentiary documents when talking about going after "white people." ("They think it's funny because they're getting away with it," a Pierson supporter said.)

When his friends later told him that Quinzell shot somebody — he ran early, too — "I's like, yeah. Cause I saw him. He had it in his hand and was pointing it in front of him."

Lineberger finished with witnesses Friday morning and Nenner, apparently with little defense, took an hour to call several relatives and a minister before doing the same.

After the first couple of days, it seemed like there were enough minor contradictions in testimony and reasonable doubt to wonder about the potential verdict. Besides, Quinzell, still wide-eyed and nervously smirking, didn't take the stand to face scrutiny.

"There are a lot of indications," Temin said during a mics-off, away-from-the-jury colloquy, "that you'd hurt yourself if you testified."

Fifth Amendment aside, whoever pulled the trigger — I'd vote to convict even before Wednesday morning's closing arguments — hurt a whole lot of people more than he could harm himself by manning up. But here's what gets me as riled up as watching a dead kid's family suffer: Six black kids consciously decided to target white people for victimization, and that is no less a hate crime than dragging someone behind a pickup in Texas.

That they were teens, or that the prosecution needed their cooperation to get a conviction — which could've come as early as Wednesday afternoon — means nothing. They set out to catch a white body and they got one, leaving countless lives and families shattered on both sides of Girard in their wake.

If the races were flipped, this'd be a national scandal. But instead, it's just another day in Philadelphia's justice system, and at least five racist, violence-prone little punks will walk away scot free with enough life in their bodies to play their sick little "game."

(hickey@citypaper.net)

EDITOR'S NOTE: While we appreciate your important comments surrounding this terrible tragedy, and understand the frustration felt by the families, we will not condone, or publish any comments deemed as personal attacks, or which constitute hate speech. Please keep all comments constructive and insightful. Any comments deemed to be overly offensive and which constitute hate speech will not be posted. Thank you.

Comments

I CAN'T BELIEVE OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM FAILED US IN NOT CONVICTING ANYONE IN THE SENSELESS MURDER OF MY LITTLE COUSIN. THERE WERE SIX BOYS INVOLVED IN THIS HORRIFIC CRIME, I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT JUST BECAUSE FIVE OF THEM TESTIFIED AGAINST THE ONE BOY AND HE WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY AND WERE GIVEN DEALS FOR THEIR TESTIMONY, THAT THIS ISN'T THE END OF IT. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT NONE OF THESE BOYS THAT WERE INVOLVED WEREN'T CHARGE WITH ANYTHING. SOMEONE COMMITTED MURDER AND NO ONE HAS TO ANSWER FOR THE CRIME? I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE CLOSING ARGUEMENTS OF THE DA. IN MY OPINION, SHE LET US DOWN WITH SUCH A WEAK CLOSING. IS THERE GOING TO BE ANY JUSTICE FOR THIS CRIME? IS ANYONE GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER FOR WHAT THEY DID? AS FOR THE PERSON WHO KILLED MY COUSIN, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND I HOPE YOU CAN SLEEP AT NIGHT FOR WHAT YOU DID! YOU'VE CAUSED A LOT OF PAIN TO OUR FAMILY AND TO YOURS, I"M SURE, I HOPE YOU CAN LIVE WITH WHAT YOU DID. WHEN YOU MEET YOUR MAKER, YOU WILL HAVE TO ANSWER FOR WHAT YOU DID. GOD KNOWS WHAT YOU DID, AND "HE" IS ALWAYS WATCHING!!!
by SANDB on August 16th 2007 9:13 PM

I think they all should be under the jail. I also think their parents should be held accountable.
by Granny07 on August 17th 2007 1:51 PM

Mr Hickey,
I feel compelled to comment here once again. As you may recall I commented on your first article about Robert and thanked you for your words.
My son (freddy) was sobbing and unconsulable as he told me the jury's verdict. My family is grief stricken all over again. We lost a beloved member of our family, a child we all love and had great expectations for.
I read the testimony and closing arguements for this case and all I can say is OMG. Is this the kind verdict what all murder victims and their families can expect?
I am asking every Philadelphian, in the city and surrounding areas, to submit their own Victim's Impact Statements to the Judge. Everyone of you are victims in this crime. Wether you are a family member/friend of Robert, or of one of the other over 200 victims this year. Please, send Impact Statements. Philadelphians are tired of burying our children.
The second annual In Memory of Robert baseball tournament is taking place this weekend. It seems like every neighborhood has some kind of sports tournament, another child killed, another mural, another tournament. Does the city have enough walls for these murals? Does the city really care. Yesterday's news is just that yesterday. Our pain and suffering is today and tomorrow, with no end. We mourn for our loved one, along with the other over 200 families of murder victims in our city(will we reach 300?).
Please come out and show support not only for the memory of our child's death, but for all of the murder victims in the city.


by mary on August 19th 2007 8:28 PM

this story comes out to be a surprise to me in my opinion justice was not done with these chapter, each one of those boys that were involved in playing a sick game should of been convicted even with conspiracy, their testimony shouldn't got them a free card because they seeing this as a game they should of got got convicted for there sick actions and for being involved.
by maribel on August 20th 2007 8:38 AM

This is complete bullshit, rotten kids like this are destroying Philadelphia. I am not racist at all, yet it is pretty obvious, if the races were flipped, the white kids would be in prison. My heart goes out to the family of the loss. I hope these kids get what they deserve soon enough. I'm a delco resident and the crime has rised greatly in my area, the justice system is so CROOKED, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING, BECAUSE THEY OBVIOUSLY AREN'T.
by sijyb00 on August 20th 2007 1:15 PM

Regarding the other racist punks that turned states evidence, why were they not charged with conspiracy to commit murder, pre-meditated murder as well as conspiracy to commit a hate crime and committing a hate crime. Those charges alone could put them behind bars for 20-30 years at least? Why on God's green earth would they let them off, regardless of their cooperation?

Oh, that's right, it was not a white on BLACK crime so it is more acceptable in todays decadent society. Our "lovely" Mayor's buddies are doing more jail time than these pathetic wastes and they did not even kill anyone.

Have the social laws flipped upside down and noone told me about it???
by Jreynolds on August 22nd 2007 11:39 AM

Why didn't the marijuana smoking white guys identify the shooter????????? Oh, that's right they were so busy hitting kids in the heads with bottles. Perhaps Susan Nobles should be locked up for starting it all???? Look up the definition of a conspiracy the next time you want to spew legal terms. There was no agreement to kill in the case. It was a reaction by one kid to shoot. Don't feed into it, JUDGE!!!!!!!!!
by BFORREAL on August 22nd 2007 10:37 PM

I've tried to stay away from this thread and leave it to the commentators, but this last one from Bforreal needs clarification.
Based on their testimony, they couldn't ID the shooter because 1) Pierson had a half-block lead on them, 2) only one bottle was broken over a head, 3) the shots were fired before the other kids could catch up with Pierson and 4) when they heard them, they ducked, no closer than 1/4 block to the shooter.

I'm also curious as to how you can blame Noble for "starting it all" as she was doing nothing but having a 10th birthday party for a kid inside her house when she heard a bottle thrown through her neighbor's window. A bottle that actually started it all.

As to the "agreement to kill," you'd be right -- if they hadn't all agreed to come to Fairmount to "catch bodies" with a gun from one of their aunt's, prior to the killing.

There's ample room for debate in this case - though my column made it clear where I stand - but it's just wrong to take personal shots at people in the midst of such a tragedy, regardless of what you believe happened.
by hickey on August 23rd 2007 7:26 AM

I am glad I don't live in Philadelphia. But philidelphia is in America, and this shit could happen anywhere in America. I have been all over this country and seen philly. It is a nasty place, but just like Atlanta or Dallas or New Orleans. The same thing makes it nasty. A pervasive disgusting feeling that White people are hated, in a white country, with a white language, in a world where whites are a creative minority that brought so much to the world, is it legal now to gang-murder us in our own country becuase you are a "disenfranchised 'minority' ?" We have given so much to you even after seeing you at your worst time and time again, whether out of fear or out of compassion, and this is how we are rewarded. I am glad you gangsters got a bottle on the head, if it was the only fight the kid could put up against you. Now you know why we are afraid of you when we see you in the store with your hoodies and gang clothes. We should be afraid of you, and it shouldn't empower you but make you afraid, too.
by tasteofsnowflakes on August 27th 2007 12:29 AM

These kids sound like they were banking on getting away with murder. By the way, if it werent' for still-free internet, you couldn't post this kind of news article with your opinion. You know that right, the newspapers are owned, yeah? So I applaud you.
by tasteofsnowflakes on August 27th 2007 12:35 AM

Tasteofsnowflakes,

America is not a White country. It a multi-ethnic country. It belongs to non-Whites as much as it belongs to Whites. In fact if we are to be really precise about it, the country belongs to the Indians. The rest of your points are valid but I thought I'd correct you on your error there. You're welcome.
by Rabbi on September 4th 2007 12:35 AM

After the death of Rob and all the news in the papers etc. I still cant believe the results of the trial. One thing we do know is Rob. is out of harms way, but the rest of us arn't. These Punks will be out and going for another person. In the mean time while their parents know what has happened will do nothing about it. Mayor Street wants to rid Phila. of guns, well here was a chance to not only get rid of a gun but the person who intenionally used it. So what if he is still in jail, the charge isnt murder like it should be. I feel the Aunt whose gun it was should be accountable, As well as the parents of those 6 animals. The person who said if it was a white kid doing the shooting it would have been a different story was so right. This city is going to the dogs. There is nothing stopping the shootings and it seems like no one really cares. Look at how many of our children have died in the last two years , over nothing. I think the city needs to step up and REALLY do something about it, before it too late, if it isnt already. God Bless you Rob. Dee Stanton
by Dee on September 5th 2007 5:33 PM

I forgot to mention, I have a question for the Judge and Jury. How do you all sleep at night? Think if that would have been your family member or friend. Would you think the same. Its a shame none of you have the balls to act on your concience's SHAME ON YOU ALL
by Dee on September 5th 2007 5:39 PM

These thugs will get theirs eventually - they'll either end up in prison or be killed by one of their own.

If a white person looks the wrong way at them, it's a hate crime. If they kill a white person, it's perfectly okay.

In 1997, Chris Brinkman was killed at his job at a Grays Ferry pharmacy by two 20 year old thugs. They'd gotten what they wanted in the robbery. They just wanted to kill a white kid. Chris Brinkman was 16.

But, oh noooooooooo, that wasn't a hate crime.

Give me a break!
by Grays Ferry Girl on September 7th 2007 3:09 PM

This case disgusts me. I played baseball with Robert for years, and when I heard of his murderers arrest, I was happy to hear that it seemed justice would be served. But it hasn't and you know what? It probably never will. We have thousands of protesters across the country rallying for the Jena 6, but this case barely is a blip on the radar. My suggestion to Brian Hickey: publish an article posing the idea of some kind of organized protest at city hall for this case. People have to hear about this.
by shelfire on September 22nd 2007 1:17 PM

Let's compare. Jena 6, respond to what should have been illegal hate crime taunts with violence, but should be "freed" for that violence, but someone gets killed in Philly by a set of deranged hooligans and the hate crime law doesn't kick in?

The Jena 6 kids needed to advocate for hate crime legislation in Louisiana instead of resort to violence. But what good is hate crime legislation, such as we have in PA, if the DA, the Mayor, City Council, and the Police Commissioner are too weak or weakened to apply it?

Isn't the PA States Attny Gen. Office empowered to act at this point?

I'm heart-broken for this kid. Sounds like a self-defense case in a state with no legislated recognition of the right of self-defense. There was a bill this last session to address that in Harrisburg. Did it pass?
by peanut on September 26th 2007 3:31 AM

To Tasteofsnowflakes:

I'm just reading your post and must agree with Rabbi. If you really want to go there, this land did belong to the Indians (Native Americans) until the white people came and robbed them of it! Can you say white-on-indian crime?! And they didn't use bottles, they used their fancy European guns against their arrows! Wait, Eurpoeans had guns against the first people here who only had arrows...does that mean...white people brought guns to America?!!
by myopinion on September 27th 2007 2:02 PM

I see a lot of people saying that if the races were flipped then the white kids would be in jail right now. I don't know about that one...hello Jena 6? The point here is you had stupid kids with nothing to do turn around and seek out trouble against people who did have something going for them. And nevermind about anyone's future, the responsible parties should be held accountable for their actions against the victims, this is in ANY case. A life was taken here and the gun didn't care what color that victim was! These injustices happen everyday and until we make these people accountable, they will continue to happen!
by myopinion on September 27th 2007 2:07 PM

Would any White person get away with playing this sick, twisted, game of hate? The obvious answer is HELL NO! Blacks would be screaming "HANG WHITEY!" from the roof tops. But, because of our corrupt, "politically-correct" justice system, six black (YES, BLACK) thugs get off.
by rellik on October 26th 2007 3:54 PM

Where's the Justice? Where's the Justice? Where's the Justice?
by Lenny on November 15th 2007 5:03 PM

This should serve as a wake up call for white amerikka!enough is too damned much!we gotta unite and takeour country back from this street scum.After all,we're dealing with trash,and with trash you simply burn it!
by rod crowley on February 17th 2008 11:25 AM

Sorry, Rod, but the article should not serve as a "wake up call for white amerikka!" Nor should it incite anybody to burn "trash." Rather, it should show ALL americans that there are two sides to every story, and that we need to better respect one another. Save your race-baiting rabble-rousing for someone else.
by Hickey on February 17th 2008 11:30 AM

This proves beyond a doubt that segregation is the only answer.also,human laws cant be applied to non-humans.we need 1920's style justice.
by rod crowley on February 17th 2008 11:32 AM

Well mr hickey,you're a sheep and what eventually happens to all sheep??they get slaughtered!Your passive forgive and forget attitude is whats wtong with this country.you're living proof that folks can live without a spine.
by rod crowley on February 17th 2008 11:47 AM

Guess that means a sheep wrote the article that you're basing your nonsensical conclusions on.
I'm hardly passive, rod. Rather, I have enough sense to realize that people both white and black can be good and bad. It's a shame you haven't evolved to the same point. As I said before, save your hate-mongering for somebody else who's dim-witted enough not to realize that, by trying to exploit this tragedy, you're as rancid as the kids who committed the crime.
by Hickey on February 17th 2008 11:55 AM

At some point in the future White people will stop making the concessions that we have in the past and will decide that enough is enough. This murder case serves as a bleak reminder that we, the dominant white culture, have castrated ourselves. I can't for the life of me figure out why.
by Okie Dave on April 22nd 2008 7:26 PM

Of course a jew wants to credit indians for building America. America is a white country. You are a leapard with really big stripes.
by tasteofsnowflakes on June 6th 2008 11:51 PM

The people are the cause of most crime and violence in philadelphia. They have black newspapers, black college funds, black only causes, etc..
If white people were to have anything like this that included only white people they would complain and say it is not fair.
by Concerned Philadelphian on July 19th 2008 2:51 AM

First of all,,, this is NOT A WHITE COUNTRY.. secondly, i knew both rob and the black guys and nobody in this picture was angels..secondly .. i thought it was a fair ruling becuase it is not clear who pulled the trigger and you cannot send the wrong guy to jail..sorry.it happens too much already..i was once inprisoned for something i didnt do and trust me it sucks and it makes you question this democracy!! system
by Dat kid from up the street on August 11th 2008 8:05 PM

First of all,,, this is NOT A WHITE COUNTRY.. secondly, i knew both rob and the black guys and nobody in this picture was angels..secondly .. i thought it was a fair ruling becuase it is not clear who pulled the trigger and you cannot send the wrong guy to jail..sorry.it happens too much already..i was once inprisoned for something i didnt do and trust me it sucks and it makes you question this democracy!! system
by Dat kid from up the street on August 11th 2008 8:05 PM

I know that this happened a few years back. I am a acquaintance of Rob's sister Monica, and attended school with her.
I feel as though that her, her family, and the surrounding community were very strong during the occurring event. I also feel that race shouldn't be the factor of the event, because anyone could have pulled the trigger and anyone could have been the victim in this matter, and it probably would have had the same outcome.
I would also like to address that this is America, and that even though it says we are all equal, we aren't. People of different ethnic groups other than pure white(which most of you aren't) are look down upon, and that most people in America hate and discriminate against us. You can't and won't know what people of different races go through unless you walk in their shoes and look through their eyes. I am a black American and I have witnessed and been involved situations. I am a good kid, never got in trouble, suspended, or expelled. I never held a gun in my hand nor have I got in a fight with anyone. Yet I am the one who gets stared at if in a store by a fellow American who has a different color than I. I am the one to get followed in a store because they assume I am a thug. I don't dress like a thug, nor do I talk like a thug, why should I be treated like a thug. So the arrogance from people like Tasteofsnowflakes are horrible to hear. To know that in Philadelphia, no... America, a place of the free, a place to be welcomed, we are lessened, because of the stupidity of some.
Now I know that in the community that I went to school and made friends, I was probably looked at as a thug or was feared upon. Crime can be committed by anyone and everyone, remember that. Also, most of the people in the incident were not all innocent, including the victim, but that doesn't mean anyone should have gotten murdered.
by Anonyomous on February 7th 2009 9:45 PM


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