After his spontaneous attack on an Black man, a truck driver from Colorado has been sentenced to prison. Nolan Strauss, 27, pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime on Thursday (Sept. 9) and was sentenced to 16 years in prison.
As Strauss approached Ronnell Hughes, 49, at the Arby’s at the borders of Idaho, he stabbed him in the neck with a four-inch knife. Hughes, who was filling out an application at the time, struggled with the knife for a few seconds before a maintenance worker saved him.
As the black person, whose clothing was soaked in blood, hurriedly fled along the street, collapsing beside a garbage can. His jugular vein and thyroid cartilage were injured and he was rushed to a local hospital for emergency surgery and then transferred to an Idaho hospital for treatment.In spite of catching up behind Strauss at the fast food restaurant, he had never seen him until the sentencing hearing.
Hughes said he was angry at someone who tried to take his life from him, a stranger he didn’t even know, even though he had no enemies.
When questioned for an explanation of the attack, Strauss said, “Because he was black, and I dislike black people.”, according to prosecutors. In court, he admitted to the incident and explained that he had made the decision as a result of a manic episode brought on by a failure to take his mental health medication.
“I apologize deeply for what I did. In my right mind, I wouldn’t do that. I’m glad he survived,” Strauss said, adding that he should now “take his medications at all times.”
© 2021, Jonathan P-Wright. All rights reserved.
