Florida Man Charged with Federal Hate Crime for Racially-Motivated Murder in Kansas City
Alleged Hate Crime Incident
Sean Walter Tonkin, a 36-year-old Florida man, is facing charges of a federal hate crime for a murder committed while he was staying in the Kansas City, Missouri, area.
The charges were filed as part of an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City.
Details of the Offense
The indictment outlines that, while staying at a local motel, Tonkin allegedly committed an unprovoked attack on a Black man, identified as J. M. R., on July 4.
Armed with a knife featuring knuckles, Tonkin reportedly used racial epithets and threats before stabbing J. M. R. twice in the chest and abdomen, leading to the victim’s death.
Motivation: Racial Hatred
The indictment asserts that Tonkin’s attack on J. M. R. was motivated by racial animosity.
The charges emphasize the racially-motivated hate crime resulting in the victim’s tragic death.
Official Statements
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Teresa A. Moore for the Western District of Missouri, and Special Agent in Charge Stephen A. Cyrus of the FBI Kansas City Field Office jointly announced the charges.
The FBI Kansas City Field Office is leading the investigation, with the case being prosecuted by Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney David Ketchmark and Trial Attorney Eric Peffley.
Presumption of Innocence
The announcement concludes by stating that an indictment is an allegation, and all defendants, including Tonkin, are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
