A 21-year-old man found dead last year with a rope around his neck died by suicide, according to a state autopsy.
The Chief Medical Examiner’s Office found Javion Magee’s cause of death was hanging and classified his death as suicide.
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Medical personnel examined Magee on Sept. 13, 2024.
On Sept. 11, 2024, Magee was found seated in front of a tree with a rope around in his neck in a parking lot on Vanco Mill Road near Henderson, according to the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.
After Magee’s death in September 2024, attorneys representing his family said they were pushing for transparency and trying to figure out the circumstances of his death.
On Sept. 18, 2024, attorney Lee Merritt said at a news conference he was hired to investigate the possibility of a lynching or a hate crime. At the time, Merritt said he didn’t believe Magee died by suicide.
WRAL News has reached out to Merritt with a request for comment, but has yet to hear back.
Get help
If you're having suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis, call or text 988 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. Veterans can press “1” after dialing 988 to connect directly to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline. For texts, veterans should continue to text the Veterans Crisis Lifeline short code: 838255.
Friends and family who are concerned about a loved one can also call or text 988 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for help.