I am Charmaine Lawson, mother of David Josiah Lawson, who was known by many as DJ. If this is your first time hearing my story, here is a brief summary of the facts leading to my son’s murder and how you can possibly help.
DJ was a sophomore attending Humboldt State University studying criminal law. On April 15, 2017, DJ attended a birthday party in Arcata. Lila Ortega who was also in attendance, misplaced her cell phone and began accusing several people of color of stealing it. Ortega then called her boyfriend Kyle Zoellner to come to the party to assist her.
When Zoellner arrived, Ortega demanded that DJ and his friends empty their pockets looking for the phone. When they said no, an altercation ensued and Nia Wilkins and Angelica McFarland sprayed them with a bear spray chemical agent and a fight broke out involving Zoellner and DJ. When a witness separated the two of them, DJ was covered with blood and had been stabbed several times. One of those stab wounds hit DJ in the heart and as he lay dying, Ortega was heard saying, “I hope that nigger dies!” DJ later died at Mad River Community Hospital.
Ortega would later find her phone after leaving the party.
When police arrived, Zoellner was questioned and arrested for the murder of my son. Police recovered the knife that killed my son at the scene and a DNA test later revealed that the only identifiable blood on the knife was that of Zoellner and DJ.
At Zoellner’s preliminary hearing, the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, whose job it is to represent the victim, appeared to intentionally present a case on behalf of the defense. This led to the release of the suspect Kyle Zoellner. A criminal grand jury was later convened to hear the case and, again, the district attorney’s office presented a case of self-defense for the suspect.
According to two members of the grand jury who reached out to me personally, they said 13 of the jurors had voted to indict Zoellner for murder, but former Deputy District Attorney Joel Buckingham led the jury to return with a decision of self-defense even though Zoellner himself never claimed self-defense.
District Attorney Maggie Fleming has stated that she will not present this case again without an eyewitness. Therefore, I am pleading with the community to come forward with video of the fight and my son’s stabbing that has been reported to exist, and for any eyewitnesses to the stabbing to contact me, Arcata Police Chief Brian Ahearn or your local police department.
If you know anything or anyone that can help this case, please come forward. I want to seek justice for my son. For the person who comes forward within the next 30 days and provides the evidence that leads to the arrest and conviction of my son’s murderer, I will award you $100,000.
DJ was my first born son, he was loved by his family and community. Not a day goes by that he is not missed. He deserves justice. DJ had a giving and loving heart, and in his memory we will be hosting the fourth annual coat drive at the Arcata Plaza on Saturday, April 17, 2021, from 2 to 5 p.m. I hope and pray to see you all there.
With love, Charmaine.
This article appears in The Green Issue 2021.
It’s as though a large number of precious-life human beings are being considered disposable to the nation. And when the young children of those people take notice of this, they’re vulnerable to begin perceiving themselves as worthless/disposable. It’s atrociously unjust and desperately needs to stop! Although their devaluation as human beings is basically based on their race, it still reminds me of the devaluation, albeit perhaps subconsciously, of the daily civilian lives lost (a.k.a. “casualties”) in protractedly devastating civil war zones and sieges. It gets a few column inches in the First World’s daily news. …
At a very young and therefore impressionable age, I was emphatically told by my mother (who’s of Eastern European heritage) about the exceptionally kind and caring nature of our Black family doctor. She never had anything disdainful to say about people of color; in fact she loves to watch/listen to the Middle Eastern and Indian subcontinental dancers and musicians on the multicultural channels. This had a positive effect upon me. Had she (for whatever reason) told me the opposite about the doctor, however, I could have aged while blindly linking his color with an unjustly cynical view of him and, eventually, all Black people.
Some people — who may now be in an armed authority capacity — were raised with a distrust or blind dislike of other racial groups.
The first step towards changing our irrationally biased thinking can be our awareness of it and its origin. But until then, I believe, such biased sentiments should either be kept to oneself or counselled, especially when considering the mentality is easily inflamed by anger.
basically if the the culprit was a hometown boy then you are screwed. We experienced something not even close to what you have but the D.A. and HSU will cover their asses at all costs.
As a 53-year-old, it seems to me that a very large number of people, however precious their lives, can be considered disposable to a nation. And when the young children of those people take notice of this, they’re vulnerable to begin perceiving themselves as worthless. It’s atrociously unjust and desperately needs to stop! Although their devaluation as human beings is basically based on their race, it still reminds me of the devaluation, albeit perhaps subconsciously, of the daily civilian lives lost (a.k.a. “casualties”) in protractedly devastating civil war zones and sieges. At some point, they can end up receiving just a few column inches in the First World’s daily news.