Ferguson Activist Melissa McKinnies' Son Found Dead From Alleged Lynching

Source: ColorLines

Melissa McKinnies shared news of her son's death on Facebook.

A Ferguson activist claims that her son was recently killed by lynching. Melissa McKinnies took to Facebook to share news of her son Danye Jones' death. The 24-year-old, who would've turned 25 on November 19, was found dead by his mother on October 17.

READ: Edward Crawford, Ferguson Protestor From Iconic Tear Gas Photo, Dies At 27

In a since-deleted Facebook post, McKinnies shared graphic images of Jones hanging from a tree. The images have since been shared on social media. Unverified accounts from social media accounts claim that police have ruled Jones' death a suicide. (Both hyperlinks include the graphic images of Jones. Viewer discretion is advised.)

McKinnies participated in numerous protests in Ferguson following Michael Brown's death. She was a former member of Ferguson grassroots activist group Lost Voices according to ColorLines.

Jones' death is reminiscent of the string of Ferguson activist deaths that have occurred since 2014. DeAndre Joshua was found in his car with two gunshot wounds to the head the night of the Ferguson verdict in 2014. Two years later, Darren Seals was found dead with two gunshot wounds to the head in his car too. In both instances, the cars were set on fire. In 2017, Edward Crawford, the activist who became viral from an iconic Ferguson protest picture showing him grabbing an active tear gas canister fired from police and throwing the explosive back at them, was found shot to death in his car too. Police believe Crawford shot himself in the back seat of his car either in an attempted suicide or by accident.

Following Crawford's death, Missouri state Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal claimed that a murderer was targeting activists in Ferguson on Twitter.

We will update this story as more information becomes available.