Portland jury clears black man of assault because white man he stabbed had said the n-word
By RACHEL BOWMAN, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER
Published: 15:06 EST, 5 December 2025
A black man was acquitted of stabbing a white man in Oregon after he claimed the attack was self-defense because the victim called him a racial slur.
Gary Edwards, 43, was charged with second-degree assault for stabbing a man in Portland near a light rail stop on July 8, KPTV reported.
However, he was found not guilty of the crime on October 31 after the jury learned the victim was using racial slurs in the aftermath of the altercation.
Edwards, who is homeless and has a previous assault conviction, admitted to knifing the victim, Gregory Howard Jr., but claimed it was in self-defense because the other man called him the n-word, according to Oregon Live.
Security cameras, with no audio, captured Edwards, with a fixed-blade knife in hand, approaching Howard as he sat on a beach.
Howard immediately jumped up and pushed Edwards, then the two scuffled until Edwards stabbed Howard in the shoulder.
Edwards defense attorney Daniel Small reportedly told the jury that his client was approaching Howard to see if he would trade his knife for cigarettes. 'What other than racism could explain why Mr. Howard perceived hatred, animosity and aggression from a complete stranger,' Small said.
Gary Edwards admitted to knifing the victim, but claimed it was in self-defense because the other man called him a racial slur
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15356455/portland-jury-acquit-black-man-stabbed-white-victim-racial-slur.html
