William McNeil Jr., a 22-year-old biology major at Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina, was punched and dragged from his vehicle by Jacksonville sheriff’s deputies during a February traffic stop.
It was an incident that went viral over the weekend following the release of video footage.
McNeil, who plays trombone in the Blue Thunder Marching Band at the historically Black college, was pulled over by deputies reportedly for not having his headlights on during inclement weather and allegedly not wearing a seat belt.
In video footage from a camera mounted in his car, McNeil is seen asking officers to speak with a supervisor before deputies break his window, strike him in the face, and forcibly remove him from the vehicle. Police reports and body camera footage confirm that an officer punched McNeil repeatedly, including delivering six closed-fist blows to his right thigh while he was on the ground.
The video did not attract widespread attention until it went viral on social media, prompting a public response and an ongoing internal investigation by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
“That day, I just really wanted to know why I was getting pulled over and why I needed to step out of the car. I knew I didn’t do nothing wrong. I was really just scared,” McNeil said at a news conference on Wednesday, speaking alongside his family and civil rights attorneys.
McNeil faces a lengthy recovery after sustaining a concussion and a broken tooth that pierced his lip, requiring stitches, according to his legal team and family. The State Attorney’s Office separately cleared the officers of criminal wrongdoing, a decision criticized by McNeil’s attorneys.
Livingstone College President Anthony Davis released a statement supporting McNeil, commending his restraint and resilience: “On Feb. 19, Will’s rights were violated, but he showed restraint, he showed resolve, and he showed resilience. That is the Blue Bear Way,” Davis stated. The college also highlighted McNeil’s volunteer work and mentorship in the student community.
McNeil has retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump, whose legal team issued a statement: “What happened to William McNeil Jr. is a disturbing reminder that even the most basic rights — like asking why you’ve been pulled over — can be met with violence for Black Americans.
William was calm and compliant. Yet instead of answers, he got his window smashed and was punched in the face, all over a questionable claim about headlights in broad daylight.”
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has not commented further on the status of its internal investigation as of Thursday