Ernest Hoskins' Employer Arrested, Charged With Murder

White man accused of shooting his black employee in the face is arrested on murder charges

Close to three weeks after Chris Reynolds was first accused of shooting and killing his employee Ernest Hoskins Jr., police have arrested Reynolds. Cops say Reynolds has been charged with first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault.

Hoskins was at Reynolds' house along with three co-workers from Raynell Industries at a lunch meeting when Reynolds allegedly pulled out a .44 magnum pistol and shot Hoskins, authorities say. Reynolds is white and Hoskins happened to be the only black person at the meeting. An investigation is ongoing as to a motive in the case.

[ALSO READ: Police: White Man Shoots, Kills Black Teen Because He Felt 'Threatened']

According to the state police arrest report, Reynolds "pointed a loaded gun toward Hoskins while trying to un-cock it."

Hoskins' family is being represented by Benjamin Crump, the lawyer hired by the family of Florida teen Trayvon Martin who was shot and killed by neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman, who claims self defense under Florida's Stand Your Ground law.

[ALSO READ: Trayvon Martin's Attorney Says New Evidence Needs 'Context']

“For whatever reason, he pointed the gun at the only African-American guy at the table,” Crump said of Reynolds in an interview with the Grio.

[SUBSCRIBE TO LOOP 21 RSS FEED]