Jamar Pinkney Sr. Strips Son Naked, Then Executes Him for Molesting 3-Year-Old, Says Relative

By: Edecio Martinez
Topics: Daily Blotter

(Family Photo/Detroit Free Press)

Photo: Jamar Pinkney Jr., 15.

HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. (CBS/AP) When Jamar Pinkney Sr. heard his 15-year-old son, Jamar Pinkney Jr., had sexual contact with a 3-year-old girl, he made the teen strip at gunpoint, marched him to a vacant lot and shot him to death despite pleas from the boy and his mother, a relative said.

Michigan authorities filed a first-degree murder charge Wednesday against the 37-year-old father in the shooting death Monday of Jamar Pinkney Jr. in the Detroit enclave of Highland Park.

Defense attorney Corbett O'Meara said prosecutors should consider evidence of the father's state of mind over the sex abuse report.

"If something were to happen that would cause a reasonable person to lose control of himself, that is something the prosecution would have to take into account," O'Meara said outside Highland Park District Court.

Tensions were high in the courtroom Wednesday as the handcuffed suspect was led into the room for the arraignment, which lasted less than a minute.

"No, No, No," one female relative cried before a police officer escorted her out.

Judge Brigette Officer entered a not guilty plea for Pinkney, who's also charged with assault, and ordered him jailed without bond until a preliminary examination Dec. 1.

"This is something that's hard to deal with for all the parties concerned, including the police," police Chief Ted Caldwell said afterward. "Highland Park is a small city. These are people who have been members of the community for years."

(AP/Detroit Free Press/Patricia Beck)

Photo: Jamar Pinkney Sr.

Caldwell said the sexual misconduct allegation that led to the confrontation wasn't part of the police investigation.

The shooting happened Monday night in a vacant lot in the once-prosperous city of 16,000, where decay, abandonment, fires and demolition have eaten away at many of the sprawling homes. Highland Park recently exited years of state financial oversight.

Visitors built an impromptu memorial at the shooting site. Two votive candles sat amid 10 stuffed animals, including two white teddy bears with red hearts embroidered with, "I love you."

The boy's mother, Lazette Cherry, told the Detroit Free Press that her son told her he had improper sexual contact with the girl.

"I called and told his father. This isn't something you sweep under the rug," she said.

Cherry said the elder Pinkney arrived at the home with a gun, ordered his son to strip and marched him outside despite her protests.

"He got on his knees and begged, `No, Daddy, No,' and he pulled the trigger," Cherry said.

Cherry did not immediately respond to a message Wednesday from The Associated Press seeking comment.

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by deni8863 August 11, 2010 2:24 PM EDT: dam bastard, (the son) he knew what he was doing!!!! I have small kids and if my oldest son did this, I would might have snapped in some way too!! Only he who knows it feels it. What about that poor three year old girl. she is ruined for life by this big fat sloppy man size 15 year old sez beast. may he rot in hell!!!!; Reply to this comment


by smc2576 August 9, 2010 4:05 PM EDT: As a correction officer for 7 1/2 years, I can almost guarantee that he will get "jail house justice", which means he will most likely be killed. He'll be in with the murders and robbers, and they don't like child molesters, or even people that murder kids. I don't see him being locked up for his whole sentence. Mikechubs, I agree with you! Drove me nuts to see him in trial on t.v. with his hair pulled up trying to look respectable.; Reply to this comment


by ThePinkLimoncello August 3, 2010 2:31 PM EDT: Wish someone had shot my teenage molester when I was 6 years old.; Reply to this comment


by TownsendMac November 24, 2009 1:26 PM EST: This is just awful. At first I actually thought the dad did a good thing but then I really thought about it. He was just a kid! and as a parent, you don't have to agree with everything your child does, I mean, i would call the cops on him for sure, but to take the law into your own hands and kill your own child.. eekk. it makes me sick!; Reply to this comment


by MrsFreeman08 November 21, 2009 11:00 AM EST: I just want to say that prayer is much needed in this world today. No one knows how they would react to a situation like that! Race has nothing to do with it, this is the work of the devil!!! Yes there is a reason for everything but do you really believe that God the almighty Father would really want these things to happen?! NO! He loves His children and wants the best for us....We were made in His image. If we do not live the life we are supposed to have through God then we are doomed to react in a way that shows our weakness! This man killed his son because his son did the unthinkable! Yes he was and is wrong, but you cannot pass judgment on anyone...I am sure one of you have over reacted to a situation before that is trivial in comparison!!! No one can say how they will react to a situation like that, no one knows!; Reply to this comment


by Chance76 November 20, 2009 3:39 PM EST: We all should pray for the families of all involved and just know that God has a plan for everyone at all times. This man will have to live his life knowing he took his own sons life and left behind the 3 year old he was ( i hope ) trying to protect.
God Bless; Reply to this comment

by diamondgirl886 November 20, 2009 12:00 PM EST

No one knows exactly what was on his fathers mind, but that he wouldn't be able to do this to another child. I just pray for the families in this case. Who knows how long that this behavior has been going on!

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by Chance76 November 20, 2009 3:00 PM EST: Sounds like you may be judging out of racism. I have 3 son and 4 daughters all by my wife of going on 14 years. I my self can't say how i would react to the situation of one of my sons molesting my 4 year old daughter. i would first pray to God to give me strenght not to beat him to death, but there is no doubt in my mind that he would get a beating that would make him wish he was dead. I would protect any of my children from any one and anything but never judge someone, definetely if you have never been in thier situation. I have a hard time grasping the whole situation from anyone's perspective. Why would the mopther put her son in that kind of jeopardy in the first place. How would she think the father of a 3 year old girl being sexually abused would react...no one knows


by mikechubs November 20, 2009 4:44 AM EST: Piece of **** with ****** up hair. Damn nappy headed bastard needs to be tortured repeatedly.....death is too good for him!!!!!!!!!!! I'm a Father & what this **** did is inexcusable!!!! So sad I was. Tears filled my eyes.; Reply to this comment


by Rondaddy10 November 20, 2009 1:11 AM EST: WOW!!!
Can't believe that some on here sympathize with the so called "father" in this case!!!
Has our hatred and misunderstanding of child sexual abuse blinded folks so much that they condone first-degree murder of our children??? This boy admitted to doing wrong and his mother wanted him to get help. But what did he get? A bullet in the head from his own father!!! Think how the 3 yr old girl will feel now. Her father will now be in prison and she will learn later on that her half-brother was murdered on her behalf. Nothing good will come out now. Anger, vengeance, and guns all lead to grief and suffering.
And isn't it ironic that the defense attorneys will now ask for a lesser charge or sentence. They want mercy for Pinkney Sr. I ask you this: What mercy did he show for his own son?????; Reply to this comment


by margaretfaith November 19, 2009 8:16 PM EST: The apple don't fall far from the tree and what I've learned over the last 50 Years is that the old adages are just that for a reason, because they have rung true again, and again, and again. What was Dad so worried about that he had to kill his son before his son became the focus of an investigation by authorities??; Reply to this comment