Still No Motive Given at New Beginnings

This was just posted at Tricities.com.

UPDATE/ 1:35 p.m. 01/27/09: Johnson City Police have arrested Amber McCurry, 19, in conjunction with the beating death of a man at New Beginnings nightclub over the weekend. McCurry is charged with filing a false report after she allegedly told police she did not know the people who were in her vehicle, among those was Bradley Ashby.

UPDATE, 9:52a.m.; Johnson City police are looking for a second suspect in the beating death of a man at a Johnson City nightclub.

Officers arrested Bradley Ashby Monday night and charged him with reckless homicide.

He’s accused of punching James Lewis early Sunday morning in the parking lot of New Beginnings. Lewis died yesterday at the Johnson City Medical Center.

Today, Capt. Mike Street said investigators are looking for a couple of other people for questioning, including one suspect, which he has decided not to name at this time. Street says there could be more charges in this case. After all, he says several people were involved in the fight that led to Lewis’ death. In fact, two women were also assaulted in the midst of the brawl, Street said.

He says there is no indication that the fight was motivated by anyone’s sexual preference. Street says at this point, investigators have not found that anyone targeted a specific group that night. Street is not classifying this as a hate crime.

He says there is no indication that the fight was motivated by anyone’s sexual preference. Street says at this point, investigators have not found that anyone targeted a specific group that night. Street is not classifying this as a hate crime.

Now it is time to know. Does Street mean that it wasn't or that he doesn't know yet? What was this? Was this a domestic dispute? Was this random drunken violence? A fight over money? Drugs? Or was it motivated by homophobia? We need to know. It is also time for our residents to evaluate the amount of police protection needed at New Beginnings.