A white man from Baltimore, who allegedly stabbed a 66-year-old black man to death in New York City, reportedly traveled all the way to New York to commit the crime in the “media capital of the world” and make the biggest statement he could, police said.
The Associated Press reports that James Harris Jackson, 28, turned himself in at the Times Square police station Wednesday morning and was arrested on murder charges in the death of Timothy Caughman, who staggered into another Manhattan police station, bleeding, just two days prior, Assistant New York City Police Chief William Aubry confirmed.
Caughman had been picking through thrash in midtown Manhattan on Monday when Jackson, who had concealed a 26-inch mini-sword in a long overcoat, walked up and repeatedly stabbed the unsuspecting Caughman. Caughman was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
Jackson reportedly walked into the police station after seeing his photo on news reports.
“I’m the person that you’re looking for,” he told police, Aubry said. Officers recovered the mini-sword. Jackson reportedly told police that he had harbored feelings of hatred toward black men for at least 10 years and had traveled to New York on March 17.
“The reason he picked New York is because it’s the media capital of the world, and he wanted to make a statement,” Aubry said.
Jackson had reportedly been thinking of attacking others before turning himself in, according to police.
The New York Daily News reports that sources say Jackson is a military vet with membership in a documented hate group. He reportedly told police that he was motivated by hatred against black men who were romantically involved with white women.
Read more at the Associated Press and the New York Daily News.