Sen. Fetterman recites BLM slogans in celebratory Juneteenth post, but is swiftly reminded of the innocent black jogger he chased down with a shotgun

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) wished everyone a "Happy Juneteenth" on Monday, noting that extra to celebrating emancipation, the occasion marked a time to "reflect on the long shadow of systemic racism in America."

Some Twitter users obliged the senator in reflecting on the racism of yesteryear, noting a shady moment in Fetterman's own recent past: a 2013 incident when then-Braddock Mayor Fetterman pulled a shotgun on an innocent black jogger, whom he had presumed was fleeing a shooting, reported the New York Post.

Replying to Fetterman's post on Twitter — a recycled tweet from 2022, which also stressed, "PA always stands by the unshakeable truth that Black families matter + Black lives matter" — former Trump campaign communications director and Washington Times columnist Tim Murtaugh tweeted, "Senator, why don’t you tell that story about that time you chased a black jogger and held a shotgun on him because you thought he was a criminal?"

Spencer Brown, the managing editor of Townhall, shared a graphic referencing a New York Times write-up of the event, captioned, "John Fetterman chased down an innocent unarmed black man."

According to Trib Live, Fetterman was outside his home with his son around 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 26, 2013, when he claimed to have heard high-powered rifle shots. After taking his son inside and calling police, Fetterman saw a black jogger running from the direction of the alleged gunshot sounds and inferred that the two were linked.

The police report indicated that extra to being unarmed, Christopher Miyares was dressed in "running clothing and was wearing headphones."

Fetterman pulled a 20-gauge shotgun from beneath the back seat of his truck and chased down Miyares.

The Pennsylvania Democrat admitted that the gun stowed in his truck was loaded, which the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office indicated at the time was illegal.

Fetterman reportedly caught up to the jogger in his truck, ordered him to stop, then brandished his shotgun when he didn't comply.

Miyares told WTAE-TV that the Democrat aimed the shotgun at his chest, which Fetterman denied.

The jogger, who was not charged with any crime, later explained to police that he had seen children playing with bottle rockets, which may have been the source of the sound that prompted the Democrat to presume him guilty.

"I did what I thought was appropriate at the time. I don't have any regrets now. It was just a very confusing and scary situation," said Fetterman.

Fawn Walker-Montgomery, a former city council member from McKeesport, near Braddock, told NBC News last year, "He was a white man with a gun chasing a black man. ... I used to be on the council in McKeesport, and if I chased after a person with a gun, I would still be in jail. He’s showing he’s not aware of his white privilege."

The New York Post reported that while downplaying the incident ahead of the 2022 election, Fetterman also wiped mentions of the identitarian activist group BLM from his campaign site, which had been up until late August.

Braddock mayor detains jogger after hearing possible gunshotsyoutu.be

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