Dallas officials won’t prosecute Black woman for smashing window after being attacked by White man

District Attorney was surprised to hear about the warrant against her and dropped charges

The Dallas County District Attorney's office decided on Wednesday to drop charges against the Black woman, who smashed a window in her white assailant’s truck after being attacked by the man in March.

Brianna Rhodes

Apr 3, 2019

L’Daijohnique Lee thegrio.com — Charges against L’Daijohnique Lee have been dropped after her confrontation with 30-year-old Austin Shuffield. (Photo via S. Lee Merritt, Esq. via Twitter and Dallas Police Dept.)

The Dallas County District Attorney’s office decided on Wednesday to drop charges against the Black woman, who smashed a window in her white assailant’s truck after being attacked by the man in March.

According to Dallas News, L’Daijohnique Lee, 24, was facing a criminal mischief charge from being assaulted by Deep Ellum bartender, Austin Shuffield. She admitted to police that she smashed his window with a jump box during their confrontation. A warrant for her arrest was issued a day after she was hospitalized from the attack.

News of the warrant against the victim surprised John Creuzot, Dallas County District Attorney. He issued a statement on Tuesday evening saying:

“The District Attorney had no prior knowledge that an arrest warrant was issued,” the statement said. “When and if charges reach the District Attorney’s Office, we will take appropriate action.”

The District Attorney’s office had the option of dropping the case entirely or present it to the grand jury.

An indication that the charges were dropped came in a tweet from civil rights attorney, S. Lee Merritt who is representing Lee.

“The D.A. did what was right, what they were supposed to do in this situation. But it’s an embarrassment that these charges were brought forward,” said Merritt during an earlier press conference.

Many Dallas clergy leaders were in support of Lee and had hopes that the case would be excused.

On Tuesday, The Rev. Michael Waters of Agape/Joy Tabernacle African Methodist Episcopal Churches said that incidents such as this, show the “severe mistrust” that continues to grow between the Black community and the police department. Especially, in light of the way Botham Jean’s death was handled by former Dallas officer Amber Guyger.

“I am convinced that Black life does not matter to the city of Dallas,” he said.

Shuffield was initially charged with interfering with an emergency call and misdemeanor assault, but due to public outcry and protests, the police upgraded his assault charges to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

He turned himself on the charge in but was released from jail soon after. The grand jury will decide if he will be indicted on the charge.

Charges against Dai Lee have been dropped. Thank you @dallas_da pic.twitter.com/6X5FB9tr8Y

— S. Lee Merritt, Esq. (@MeritLaw) April 3, 2019

Dallas Police Deputy Chief Thomas Castro said of the case at a news conference on Tuesday that it is not the intention of his department to “pick one side or the other” and that they “value all of our citizens.”