The Department of Justice stated Tuesday that two men, Devan Nathanial Johnson, 28, and Brandon Wayne Killian, 31, plead guilty to committing a hate crime in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
On Jan. 18, 2022, a federal grand in the Western District of Oklahoma returned a two-count indictment charging both defendants, who are white, with physically assaulting a Black man — as well as the Black man’s white friend — in the parking lot of the Brickhouse Saloon in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
The indictment alleges that the assault occurred because of the Black man’s race and color.
According to statements made before District Judge Bernard Jones at the plea hearings in federal court this week, both defendants admitted to assaulting the Black man in the parking lot of the bar on June 22, 2019, because the man was Black.
The assault resulted in bodily injury to the victim.
“These two defendants are being held accountable for subjecting a Black man to a brutal and racially motivated assault,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
“The defendants targeted a Black victim for a brutal attack simply because of the color of his skin,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. “Hate-fueled criminal conduct is morally reprehensible and can never be acceptable in a civilized society. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to combat all hate crimes.”
“Violent acts of hate and racism have no place in our community and will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Division.
At sentencing, each defendant faces up to 10 years in prison.
Both defendants will also be ordered to pay restitution to the victim of their crime.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Troester, and Special Agent in Charge Gray made the announcement.
The FBI Oklahoma City Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Barry for the Western District Oklahoma and Trial Attorney Avner Shapiro of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.