GREENVILLE, N.C. ― A North Carolina university is conducting an internal review after one of its white police officers handcuffed a Black man who had just been brutally beaten by four White people.
East Carolina University officials were appalled by the incident, which began off campus, but spilled onto the university when the man running from a beating was caught and beaten again near a dining hall, Chancellor Steve Ballard said Thursday in a statement to students.
“We understand the investigation thus far provides no confirmation that race played a role. We hope that to be the case, and we urge our campus and community to let the process work,” Ballard said in his statement.
The incident began early March 17 when Patrick Myrick hit a woman in the face and she fell to the ground, Greenville Police said in news release.
Several people ran to Myrick and began beating him up, then chased him and beat him again. He suffered serious injuries and had to be taken to the hospital, police said.
Three of the white suspects have been arrested. Theresa Marie Lee, 25; Mack Humbles, 26; and Mark Privette, 33, are all charged with felony assault inflicting serious bodily injury. It wasn’t known whether any had lawyers to speak on their behalf. Working phone numbers couldn’t be found for the suspects.
Police are seeking the fourth suspect.
Lee was an East Carolina University student but is no longer enrolled, according to the school.
