HAMPTON, Va. - Gerald Jerome Boler Jr. was charged on Tuesday afternoon with felony robbery after police said he ripped a back pack from another man's shoulders during a brutal assault.
Boler's family spoke exclusively with NewsChannel 3 on Wednesday to explain what they say started the April 26 brawl.
The sources did not want to be identified because they said since the assault, they have received death threats and have been called derogatory and racist names.
They said the fight started over drugs, and a backpack was taken from the possession of one man because a gun was believed to be inside.
Boler's family said he did take the bag from the other mans shoulders, but did not leave the scene with it and did not steal any of the contents inside.
Boler is being held without bond.
