Many people were horrified at the death of 88-year-old World War II veteran Delbert “Shorty” Belton in the parking lot of his Fraternal Order of Eagles lodge. Belton survived the Battle of Okinawa where he was wounded but lost his life in a parking lot at the hands of teenagers Kenan Adams-Kinard and Demetruis Glenn, both 16, in Spokane, Washington. Now, it has been disclosed that Adams-Kinard says that the whole thing was a crack deal gone bad with Belton as the dealer in a type of Geriatric edition of Breaking Bad. The teen said that the whole thing started when they went to get a “zip of crack cocaine from Shorty,”
The allegation was contained in what is described as a letter to Adams-Kinard’s mother. An affidavit from prosecutors recounts how Adams-Kinard told two friends that the beating was the result of a drug deal gone bad and the letter signed by Adams-Kinard repeated the account. It stated “I took his wallet and another ounce of crack from his pockets. He was unconscious so I made sure he was still breathing, and then I took off.” Putting aside the image of an 88-year-old going to the parking lot of the Order of Eagles lodge to sell crack, it is a curious appeal to a mother that we were not doing anything beyond trying to buy “a zip of crack cocaine from Shorty.”
Not only the police, but even Glenn’s lawyer expressed skepticism over the claim of Shorty being a crack dealer.
This could make a situation even worse for Adams-Kinard unless he can prove it. Casting the elderly victim and war hero as a crack dealer is the type of thing that pushes prosecutors to seek the maximum penalty. Belton was barely five feet tall and appears to have tried to fight back during the gruesome beating.
Source: USNews
it is a curious appeal to a mother that we were not doing anything beyond trying to buy “a zip of crack cocaine from Shorty.”
At Nikki the woman who first commented Shortys family loved him and I don’t know about no CNN interview but we loved him he was a saint, my children’s hero, role model he was everyone grandpa in the neighborhood he lived in. He was no CRACK dealer and the people even entertaining that idea please know you all are mistaken and I will tell everyone til I’m blue in the face If I have to because Delbert deserves that !!!
I did not realize it but there are reports that Shorty has become a sort of Travon Martin figure for those who believe that African Americans intentionally target whites when they commit crimes.
One would hope that whatever the misfortune of Shorty in his last years, in his death we could have some appreciation his sacrifice and contribution and not make him a symbol of our current political disagreements.
Reports from those closest to Shorty and his death seem to agree that his death had nothing to do with race or racism.
Our current fight over racism is one battle that Shorty should not have to endure.
@ AY not saying many elders havent sold drugs its the law of survival i dont care who you are with the corporation finally showing their true faces and what the u.s.a is really about. there are not many choices. as the elderly are over qualified to flip burgers. heres my problem with the corporation. before big pharma took over. cocaine was used to numb the pain especially during surgical times. heroin was used to knock the patient out. alcohol was used to clean wounds. and marijuana to combat nausea and non appetities. all of todays medicines contain one or more of the so called illegal drugs and the corporation is the biggest dealer in the world. with them stealing our money by the illegal agency named the i.r.s. shipping companies overseas, and low wages your damn right people are going to do what they have to do for survival.
my child at 17 is old enough to go in the military to kill for rights and freedoms( lies and bullchit) but isnt old enough to smoke, drink, get in clubs or anything else?? are u serious? anyway im going to let that conversation go and go lay back down…. wish i had some marijuana to smoke right now. especially since the corporation shut down and destroyed dr hulda clark who invented and discovered to fight and win against cancer that didnt include shooting me up with chemo and radiation THINK ON THAT ONE
pete,
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You’re one of the naturally funniest people I know and I know a lot of funny people.