Thousands Sign Petition To Oust Judge After Murder Of NC A&T Graduate
By CASH MICHAELS
As of Monday evening, over 11,000 people signed a Change.org petition (change.org) calling for the removal of an Arundel County judge some say is responsible for the death of a N.C. A&T graduate.
That grad, Tyrique Hudson, 22 of Wilson, was fatally shot on the morning of Monday, April 15th, just outside of his apartment in Glen Burnie, Maryland, allegedly by a white, and authorities say, “deranged” downstairs male neighbor identified as James Allen Veronbeck, 53.
According to published reports, Hudson had felt so threatened by Veronbeck that in February, Hudson went to court petitioning for an order of protection after Veronbeck allegedly threatened his life with a slit-throat “death gesture” with his thumb. Adding verbally, “…you knew this day was coming.”
The young man also considered moving, his parents say.
According to Maryland court documents, that order of protection was denied by District Court Judge Devy Patterson Russell, saying that Hudson ‘…could not meet the burden of proof” needed.
After allegedly killing Hudson, the suspect reportedly ran back into his apartment, and barricaded himself inside for ten hours as authorities tried to take Veronbeck into custody. During the course of the standoff, Hudson laid lifeless on the outside stairwell because police could not reach him before securing his alleged murderer.
Veronbeck has been charged with first and second-degree murder, and first and second degree assault, using a firearm in a violent felony and reckless endangerment.
Veronbeck reportedly has a long history of violence-and-gun-associated arrests dating back to 1996, according to court records.
“The family and friends of Tyrique Hudson are calling for the removal, permanent suspension, or forced retirement of District Court Judge Devy Patterson Russell.,” the Change.org petition states. “She failed to complete her duties of a district court judge and failed to protect the innocent, leaving a man dead.”
The petition later continues, ‘The courts should not trust that she has the citizens’ best interest at heart. We question if this had been the other way around would a request for protection have been granted. If Hudson was a white man requesting protection, would he still be alive.”
The petition goes on to call for an investigation into Judge Russell’s record to determine if there is a pattern of order of protection denials based on race.
Hudson (or “T.J.” as he was better known), graduated N.C. A&T University in May 2018, and as a quiet, well-mannered young man, and talented software engineer with a very promising future, his friends and family say. He had moved to Maryland after graduation to work for a technology company there, and was doing very well.
His parents – Tyrone Hudson and Tonya Burch – remember their son as loving, caring and committed to church.
“This is a different kind of hurt no parent wants,” Ms Burch told The Wilson Times. “He is my one and only child. He has always been my heart and joy.”
“He was just overall a very gifted, unique child."
Hudson’s funeral is scheduled for Saturday, April 27th in Wilson.
Judge Russell is reportedly on “temporary assignment” as the Maryland Court of Appeals considers an unrelated complaint seeking her suspension from the bench.
