Uncle of Fatal Stabbing Suspect Writes Letter to the Editor Urging Community Re-examine Public Statements Made in the Case

David Lawson, victim of the stabbing, and mugshot of Kyle Zoellner, suspect in the stabbing.

Welcome to our letters to the editor/opinion section. To submit yours for consideration, please send to [email protected]. Please consider including an image to be used–either a photograph of you or something applicable to the letter. However, an image is not necessary for publication. Remember opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect that of Redheaded Blackbelt.

My name is Jay Zoellner and I am the uncle of Kyle Zoellner. I am writing this letter to be shared to the Community of Arcata and local news agencies as I am in disbelief of what I have seen take place over this past week regarding the tragic death of Josiah Lawson.

The purpose of this letter is to challenge the public statements that have been presented to the public by the news community that has clearly turned a blind eye to the possibility that Kyle did not commit this crime.

The police must address the following contradictions that are found in these public statements made over the last week that have publicly convicted Kyle of this terrible crime.

Monday April 17th
Mother of victim:  “They told me the suspect might be released because even though they have 13 eyewitnesses, no one saw the suspect with the knife,” Michelle-Charmaine Lawson said of the suspect who was arrested in the fatal stabbing of her son, David Josiah Lawson, of Arcata. (None of the eye witnesses saw Kyle with a knife. These were the key eye witnesses as these were the people the police identified at the scene and brought in immediately, yet not one person saw Kyle with a knife.)

Monday April 17th
Elijah (friend of Josiah) “There was an altercation between some white women and a white boy that were accusing Josiah based off the color of his skin on stealing a phone,” Chandler said. “And they got into an altercation at which time they pepper sprayed him and proceeded to stab Josiah.” (Was this the 1st altercation or the 2nd altercation?)

Monday April 17th
Chandler ( Elijah), an HSU student, said another member of Brothers United, which is a community-based cultural club intended to unite men of color at HSU, disarmed the man and he ran to Lawson’s side under a tree. (There were no eye witnesses yet he says another “member” disarmed Kyle)

Wednesday April 18th
Elijah states “Chandler grabbed Lawson and began to “give him some breath,” administering CPR, he said. At some point he noticed that his face and lips were burning. “Come to find out they had maced him prior [to the stabbing],” Chandler said. “He couldn’t even see before it happened.” (Where was Elijah maced and by whom? He said he saw Josiah being sprayed so one would assume he is close to Kyle and Josiah? Yet he stated that he ran over to Josiah where “he was in the bushes under a tree”. Was Josiah stabbed somewhere else, away from Kyle and Elijah?)

The Community of Arcata must start asking questions as nothing makes sense at this time. This investigation must immediately be restarted with an intense focus on every single component of the actual facts that took place the morning of the stabbing. This must be done for both the families of Josiah and Kyle.

Jay Zoellner

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Gazoo
Guest
Gazoo
6 years ago

I don’t know if I would have blasted this on a public blog, I would retain a good lawyer and provide them with this info hoping to beat the case at trial with lack of evidence, either way it sucks all around, hug your loved ones and tell them you love them.

dave
Guest
dave
6 years ago
Reply to  Gazoo

Brothers united is a race mandated street gang allowed to roam free and prowl our college campus under the guise of a wholesome after school academic program…. Wake up Humboldt b4 this becomes like Oakland or Chi-Raq #keepdaboldthumble

Sgreen
Guest
Sgreen
6 years ago
Reply to  dave

So what is the KKK!that is a known hatred filled gang allowed to roam the streets and antagonize people of color. Let’s discuss that fact.

CaucasianAmerican
Guest
CaucasianAmerican
6 years ago
Reply to  Gazoo

Im suing brothers united for discrimination for denying my application based on the color of my skin

NotALawyer
Guest
NotALawyer
6 years ago

This should be private information you address with your lawyer…… While these may be valid questions, you might be blowing the case. Yikes.

Going public during an active murder investigation is generally not a great move.

Johnny Reb
Guest
Johnny Reb
6 years ago
Reply to  NotALawyer

Not a lawyer is right.

It is the age of Youtube. Everyone goes public, even when they are drunk or stoned or throwing themselves off their parents roof. The absurdists would have a field day watching this culture crash and burn.

The public lynching of a man who is presumed innocent until PROVEN guilty is typical of this absurd behavior. Why would anyone believe what a bunch of drunken revelers say at 3am anyway -??

I have not seen one thing about whether these kids were drunk or stoned. Was this a non-alcoholic shindig in the middle of the night? Doubtful.

Yet the BLM folks jump all over this like a race war started in Arcata. The white guilt-ridden “vice mayor” of Arcata cries crocodile tears and the world weeps.

Absurd, indeed.

hum baby
Guest
hum baby
6 years ago
Reply to  NotALawyer

These are valid accounts that are known due to what has been blasted on the internet. This is no secret!! Yes an attorney needs to use this info but, it is already public knowledge. This guy is just tired of his nephew being drug through the mud. Quite frankly I have been thinking the same damn thing and I am just an outsider looking in.

AnonymousHumboldtian
Guest
AnonymousHumboldtian
6 years ago
Reply to  hum baby

There’s a kid dead and all indications point to Kyle. I think his name is being “drug through the mud” for a pretty good reason.

Tell the truth chandler
Guest
Tell the truth chandler
6 years ago
Reply to  NotALawyer

None of the info this uncle spoke about is private, this is all coming from whats being reported. I sure hope that questions are being asked because Chandler guy doesn’t make any sense. If you ask me maybe they should be looking into him….

hmm
Guest
hmm
6 years ago

Was the phone ever found?

Tired
Guest
Tired
6 years ago
Reply to  hmm

Yah, in the girls purse!

poorinnocentblackkid
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poorinnocentblackkid
6 years ago
Reply to  Tired

Not true

Papa Sancho
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Papa Sancho
6 years ago

your “name” is misleading. Theres no such thing.

Traumamanifestsindifferentways
Guest
Traumamanifestsindifferentways
6 years ago

I feel sorry for you and your family, Sir. Keep in mind this happened at a party where people were on many different levels of not sober. Also this was a violent crime. Whether your relative is guilty or not people who saw it must be traumatized. The fact that no one saw him with the knife could be trauma. I broke up a knife fight recently (not related) and I can’t even remember my screaming to put the knife down and jumping in-between. I completely blacked it out….like it never even happened.

G-MAS
Guest
G-MAS
6 years ago

Hopefully the whole truth comes out. For both families I’m so sorry,this is the place you’d think your children are safe.

LocalYocal
Guest
LocalYocal
6 years ago

With a mugshot like that, all beat up, it is sure easy for Kyle to look guilty, isn’t it? And I fear a lot of people aren’t going to look beyond the headline and the photos side-by-side. Uncle, I hate to tell you, I have no trust in the justice system up here. (I’ve frequently heard it repeated, even among law enforcement, sadly, we have a legal system, not a justice system.) It’s not a race thing. It’s a small-town thing. Please hire a private PI to back up all the evidence and witnesses as fast as you can. I agree –
everything you say will be used against Kyle at trial. There is no mercy. Best of Wishes to all families. There are no winners here.

wherewereyouwhitey
Guest
wherewereyouwhitey
6 years ago

Usually blacks,kill blacks. Blacks
Cause a whole lot of ruckus and problems for the rest of us factually.
Blacks are a small,part of society but make big problems for the rest of society. [Edit] will argue these facts.
so google it for your own records, let yourself do the research to confirm the numbers.

JustWantToHearTheEndoftheStory
Guest
JustWantToHearTheEndoftheStory
6 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Kym, see my reply (I did not put up the poster) below. When reality is denied to promote political agendas, society ends up with Rotherham (google it, you’ll see what I mean)

BreAnne
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BreAnne
6 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Preach sister 🙌🏼

Veterans friend
Guest
Veterans friend
6 years ago

Your racism is showing

JustWantToHearTheEndoftheStory
Guest
JustWantToHearTheEndoftheStory
6 years ago

The truth is not always politically correct, and crying racism in response to anyone who disagrees with you doesn’t help, but hinders any movement towards solutions.
https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/htus8008.pdf

Indigenous20+yrsOntheNorthCoast
Guest
Indigenous20+yrsOntheNorthCoast
6 years ago

Be careful with this post/graphic… looks and smells like “alt right” neo Nazi propaganda.. not a good look..

sharpen your pencil
Guest
sharpen your pencil
6 years ago

Ah yes, because anything that endangers your safe space is at right propaganda…. You twits need to get your damn heads out of the sand!

To the uncle of Kyle, you may want to refrain from making such dumbass commentary. The police have to sort through dozens of drunken accounts of this incident. Food for thought, just because no one saw him with a knife doesn’t mean he’s innocent, just means he could be sneaky!

Sgreen
Guest
Sgreen
6 years ago

That is not true. The problem there are no statistics on White on Black violence nor white on white crime statistics. So let’s get correct data on that

Dot
Guest
Dot
6 years ago

I would like to hope that all the statements that have been made public are not all the statements that have been made. That the public is speculating on the ‘evidence’ they have and that LE has more that we are, and will be kept, unaware of until the trial.
The court of public opinion is notoriously flawed and the rumor mill ugly. Nothing like social media to emphasize that.
This event was ugly for all involved. Lives are changed. Families broken. If we are lucky, truth will be found in the fullness of time. Sigh.

River Rat
Guest
River Rat
6 years ago

I believe he’s guilty. If Marci kitchen can get away with murder ( for a while ), He can also.

Gogi
Guest
Gogi
6 years ago

And whats your explanation from his last arrest for choking out a young woman? That incident could have killed her.
Or the other fights he’s been in?

Sorry but i find your questions to make no sense. It sounds like you are conjecturing to prove your point. You are not a cop or DA so you dont have the full story, just soundbites from news articles. I havent heard of any other suspects, and they have recovered a knife. They may find it wasnt him, we dont know yet.
Someone with a history of violence is assumed to continue that pattern. His past arrests will be used in this court case.
Funny how when people steal and get out of jail over and over everyone complains, but a guy like this who had a few arrests for violence and got thru the revolving door of the jail doesnt evoke the same response?

My guess is his lawyer will be in touch with you, its not a good idea to put out information publicly during an active investigation. Something that seems minor can end up being used against the accused.

Sohummountainranger
Guest
Sohummountainranger
6 years ago
Reply to  Gogi

Thank you!!! ☝🏼Finally someone with some sense commenting on here!!!

Me
Guest
Me
6 years ago

Is is too easy to decide the guilt of someone based on what is, typically, one-sided accounts of what may or may not have actually happened, or what the typical media (except RHBB) chooses to publish. Case in point: way back when Rodney King was beaten by the LA cops, NBC (my choice of news at the time) kept showing that portion of the video that showed King being beaten. When the cops were acquitted of the beating, and the rioting started, only then did NBC show what may very well have led up to the beating: King, who was not a small man, charging at the officers. While I ABSOLUTELY don’t agree that he deserved the severity of the use of the nightsticks by the cops, I was disgusted by the lack of ethics by NBC for only showing only the inflammatory parts of the video, until it was too late. Ever since, I ALWAYS QUESTION THE ACCOUNTS OF ANY STORIES UNTIL ALL THE FACTS ARE PRESENTED, RATHER THAN BELIEVE THE STORIES THAT ARE LESS-THAN COMPLETE. More people should follow that mantra.

Livin' Easy
Guest
Livin' Easy
6 years ago

My guess is that if the real truth is ever proven, and the real guilty person/persons are identified; we are all going to be saying “Wow”. More to this story than has been let on. Just my take on it.

Ben Round
Guest
Ben Round
6 years ago

No matter what, Josiah is dead, likely murdered.
I understand the Uncle’s desire to ‘balance the PR record’ against his nephew. His info should definitely be shared with Kyle’s attorney, and a PI if needed. Where social media/’the internet’ has gone with this, I know not.
I disagree with LocalYocal. I think the mugshot lends itself to the idea that Kyle was acting in self defense. (How’d he get that black eye?). Yet, with his ‘record’, one tends to think he is guilty.
(It seems) There are lot’s of unanswered questions.
Let’s let the process play out. And keep in mind that there is pain all around, including for Jay and the Zoellner family.
May all find healing, truth, and redemption.

JT
Guest
JT
6 years ago
Reply to  Ben Round

I believe that the black eye occurred as he was attempting to leave the scene of the crime. There was an aggressive effort to keep him from leaving. We all have our opinions and convictions on this tragedy..but I believe he and the two female companions with him who maced the victim and others are guilty of this crime.

Ben Round
Guest
Ben Round
6 years ago
Reply to  JT

Sounds reasonable. May the truth will out!

No One truly knows
Guest
No One truly knows
6 years ago
Reply to  JT

Oh, and you were there? That’s how you got your information? The simple fact that it was a drunken party at 3 AM in the morning I don’t believe that anybody is going to have much memory about what really happened and if there is memory it’s all going to be distorted the fact is there’s two families are very broken. I’m sorry for them both

Keoni
Guest
Keoni
6 years ago

Looking at the kids bloody face I would lean towards self-defense…

No One truly knows
Guest
No One truly knows
6 years ago
Reply to  Keoni

I would too. How else to go and explain it. Someone beat him up to stop him from leaving BS

River Rat
Guest
River Rat
6 years ago

His past encounters with law enforcement says a lot. He went too far. No doubt he deserves everything he gets.

scams brand
Guest
scams brand
6 years ago
Reply to  River Rat

Agreed

Cowabunga
Guest
Cowabunga
6 years ago

Appreciate hearing others views on this tragic event. Reminded me a little of what happened in Sacramento, when Spencer Stone (French Train Hero) was stabbed. It is definitely a chaotic scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muBE4-Wzqwc

Well....
Guest
Well....
6 years ago

I don’t think Elijah was maced; after he came in contact with the victim while giving rescue breaths, he came interacted with the residue on Josiah face. That’s when he realized Josiah got pepper sprayed and that Josiah couldn’t even see the attacker coming at him with the knife.

shawnee
Guest
shawnee
6 years ago

Thank you sir for your well written piece just another example of the far reaching and devastating corruption of our local men in blue as well as others God Bless you ,never stop your search for truth!

Johnny Huevos
Guest
Johnny Huevos
6 years ago

RIP to the man that died.

…..but I agree. Reading through these stories since it happened, there are some things that just don’t add up.

Johnny Huevos
Guest
Johnny Huevos
6 years ago
Reply to  Johnny Huevos

The ‘racial’ stuff is BS.

He was at a Brothers United gathering. Regardless of who he was fighting, he was going to be accused of being racist.

Brings up another point. If true, how dumb is a kid who goes looking for a fight at a Brothers United Party?

Brothers United already willingly segregated itself by even having the ‘club’. Crying racism is ironic.

Whities United. For the empowerment of Whites. ……..yeah……..not racist….at all…..GTFO

Poppins
Guest
Poppins
6 years ago

When a suspect is actually charged with the crime and brought to trial the autopsy report will most likely be presented.

Other evidence from the crime scene, the defendant’s toxicology screen, and investigator reports will be used to prove the state’s case.

Witness statements from the parties involved will also be used with discretion.

The trial may or may not occur here in Humboldt county.

And if the defendant’s family has the funds they will hire an excellent attorney to keep their loved one out of prison or may decide to plea out to a lesser charge.

The justice system is skewed all over our nation. And if you have funds for an excellent attorney you are a higher advantage than one without the funds.

For those of us sitting on the sidelines it is always easy to come up with our own ideas of what did or did not happen.

For a jury, they are directed to look at the facts presented in a case.

And as such they must assure themselves and the court they will be impartial.

That is why serving on a jury is so important.

The death of a loved one is traumatic to their family and friends and also to the family and friends of the accused.

It is not a journey anyone wants to walk on.

My hope is that the investigation goes well in that the true facts of the case are determined and that a fair trial eventually happens.

My heart breaks for all involved and as others posted above, the family of the accused needs to avail of themselves an attorney’s advice before using the media to make a case for their loved one.

No One truly knows
Guest
No One truly knows
6 years ago
Reply to  Poppins

Where do people’s information come from thinking Kyle’s family has money for a lawyer?

Poppins
Guest
Poppins
6 years ago

The point I attempted to make was that those with funds usually have superior attorney representation.

I have no clue what Kyle’s family has or does not have.

Danny
Guest
Danny
6 years ago

Can you imagine an all white club, we need to stop with groups that are race based. This small minded town still needs help with racism. The two girls that wish him dead need to be looked at closer. Heart breaking. RIP

j Will
Guest
j Will
6 years ago

Sad to see my fellow Humboltians are still backward and racist as ever! Does not surprise me the killer is from mc”clan”leyville!! Wake up or get woke up! Real talk.