White Louisiana pediatrician, 54, is arrested 'for shouting the N-word and punching a female college student in the chest in racially motivated attack'
A white Louisiana pediatrician was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly punching a female Southern University student and hurling the N-word at her.
Shane McKinney, 54, was charged with simple battery stemming from what school officials and the suspect's own employer have described as a racially motivated attack.
Baton Rouge police Sgt. L’Jean McKneely Jr. said the student, who runs track at Southern University, was walking near the LSU Lakes on Monday night when a man punched her in the chest and verbally assaulted her while jogging past her.
Dr Shane McKinney, 54, was charged with simple assault for allegedly punching a Southern University student in the chest and calling her the N-word. He was jogging near the LSU Lakes at the time of the incident on Monday evening
Southern’s athletic director Roman Banks said the school believes the incident was racially motivated. Southern is a historically black university, reported The Advocate.
McKinney's attorney on Thursday released a statement on his behalf, proclaiming the doctor's innocence.
'Allegations that he threw a punch and made a racially offensive comment are not true and not supported by police action,' the lawyer said in a statement to WAFB. 'He was not arrested for any type of hate crime because the evidence does not support it.
'And the misdemeanor simple battery is based upon his elbow contacting the accuser’s bicep or shoulder as he jogged past her on the narrow sidewalk.'
McKinney has worked as a pediatric emergency medicine doctor at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital since 2018
The attorney described McKinney as 'a healer and not a harmer,' and said he has no ill will toward anyone.
McKinney's lawyer concluded by asking anyone with cellphone footage or surveillance video from the area to come forward and share it with law enforcement.
McKinney, who is white, was a pediatric emergency medicine doctor at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital, according to LinkedIn.
Before McKinney’s arrest, the hospital sent an internal email informing employees that an unnamed physician had been 'identified as the suspect in an alleged racially motivated attack.' McKinney was placed on administrative leave.
On Wednesday, the hospital system removed McKinney's profile from their website.
The hospital said in a statement they do not 'tolerate hate, discrimination, or violence by any member of our organization toward another person.'
Our Lady of the Lake President and CEO Scott Wester continued: 'To be very clear, there are no excuses and no exceptions to respect one another and our community.'
McKneely did not say whether police believe the incident was racially profiled.
According to McKinney's biographical information posted on social media, he earned his medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine and completed his residency at Children's of Alabama hospital, followed by a three-year fellowship in emergency medicine at Arkansas Children's Hospital.
McKinney was released from jail on Wednesday night after posting $10,000 bond
McKinney's lawyer has proclaimed his innocence after his client's release from jail
McKinney has worked as an attending pediatric emergency physician at Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital since 2018.
In the photo of McKinney that police released on Tuesday in connection to the attack on the student-athlete, the dark-colored T-shirt he is wearing appears to be emblazoned with the logo for the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
McKinney was released from jail on Wednesday night after posting $10,000 bond, reported WBRZ. He was seen on video casually walking out of the detention center in the same light-blue polo shirt he was arrested in, and getting into a waiting car.