Video Released Of Attack On 79-Year-Old Black Man In Racist “Knockout Game”
Texas man Conrad Alvin Barrett was recently sentenced to nearly six years in prison for an unprovoked punch delivered to the face of then 79-year-old Roy Coleman back in November 2013. In the racially-motivated crime, Barrett, a white man, hit Coleman, who is black, to see if it would garner national attention. One month after being slapped with a 71-month sentence, footage of Barrett’s heinous attack has been released.
In the video, Barrett says that he had been planning the attack for over a week, but had not built up the “courage.” He recorded the incident on his cell phone. In the minute-long clip, Barrett is seen greeting Coleman, walking up to him, and punching him. He laughed and yelled “Knockout!” as Coleman landed onto the ground.
“For about a week now, I have been unable to go through with the plan,” he said. “The plan is to see if I were to hit a black person, would this be nationally televised?”
In the days following the blow to Coleman’s face, Barrett boasted about his wicked act to patrons at a local bar, one of whom was an off-duty police officer. Barrett was later charged with a federal hate crime, as Coleman suffered two fractures to his jaw. Police collected other videos on Barrett’s phone that include him using racial slurs and offering offensive commentary. In one clip, Barrett says that black people “haven’t fully experienced the blessing of evolution,” according to the New York Daily News.
Coleman’s daughter, Donna McNeal, told local news station Click2Houston that her father has not been the same since the attack. The attack has changed his speech, and also has had lasting emotional effects on Coleman, who says it reminds him of racism he endured as a child. McNeal also expressed sympathy for Barrett’s family.
“He’s 81. So you know it goes way back. Emotionally, I think he’s kinda, like, broken,” she said. “My heart goes out to his parents because they are hurting just like we are. They’re hurting because they’ve lost a son and I’m hurting because I’ve lost half of my dad.”
Barrett has been ordered to pay a $2,000 restitution fee and be supervised by officials after he serves his time. The graphic video of the attack is below:
