MACON, Ga. — A photographer from The Telegraph was physically attacked after a news conference called by state Sen. Robert Brown, D-Macon, Thursday afternoon in front of City Hall.
The man who attacked Marshall has been identified as Malik Brown. According to his Facebook profile, Malik Brown is 28 and a resident of Macon.
According to a Macon police news release received by email around 9 p.m. Thursday, Sen. Brown and Malik Brown are cooperating with police and each are expected to provide a statement about the incident Friday.
Chief Photographer Woody Marshall was taking Sen. Brown’s picture as he left Macon City Hall, following a press conference Sen. Brown called to discuss remarks made by State Rep. Allen Peake, R-Macon. Peake said comments Sen. Brown made earlier in the week equated some in the Republican Party to the Ku Klux Klan.
In a statement to Macon police detectives, Marshall said he exited council chambers after Sen. Brown in order to take additional photos. When Marshall "got right beside him (Sen. Brown), he pushed me out of the way." Marshall said the man later identified as Malik Brown "tried to keep me from following Mr. Brown."
According to the release from Macon police, Marshall said he sustained a scrape on his right arm and sought medical attention for a shoulder injury.
Reached by cell phone Thursday evening, Malik Brown said he was trying to protect the senator.
“I did what I did because I thought he was trying to attack Mr. (Robert) Brown," Malik Brown said. "I really don’t have much to say. I’m driving.”
Malik's father, C.J. Brown, attended the news conference with his son and said the altercation happened because Marshall “blew right past us and hit Robert.”
C.J. Brown told The Telegraph by phone Thursday evening that he and his son have never met Marshall and “have no ill will to him at all."
“We meant the reporter no harm," C.J. Brown said. "Neither of us knows who he is. I don’t know who he is. I’ve never seen him before in my life.”
C.J. Brown said he and Malik are not related to Sen. Brown and do not work for him.
“We go to these events with Robert some times,” C.J. Brown said. “I’m no relation to him. We call each other brothers, but we are not related.”
Sen. Brown spoke to The Telegraph by phone Thursday after the incident.
“The person in question is not associated with me. I’ve got one person on my staff, and that was not him,” Sen. Brown said by phone Thursday afternoon. “This is not something I would be associated with. I did not physically see the altercation. I do not know the person, nor is he associated with me. Other than that, I’ve no specific comment on this matter.”
Read the full story at Macon.com