UPDATE: Longview Man Arrested Accused of Beating Obama Supporter

By Tania Francois

UPDATE 12/16/08:
Shreveport police arrested Jimmy Booth, 25, of Longview Texas accusing him of second degree battery against Kaylon Johnson, 32.
Police say Booth and three friends were in Shreveport partying and on their way back home, stopped at the Citgo on I-20 and the Bert Kouns Industrial Loop exit where the altercation took place.
Johnson, a volunteer worker for the Barack Obama campaign, suffered a broken nose, broken tear duct and broken eye socket. He says racial slurs were launched against him and President Elect Barack Obama.
Booth didn't appear to have a scratch on him when he was escorted into the jail by two Shreveport police detectives.
Booth is being held on a $50,000 bond. If convicted he faces a maximum of 5 years in prison and a $2000 fine.
The FBI's investigation is still underway.

Jimmy Booth, 25, arrested charged with beating Obama supporter

UPDATE:
Sources tell us the FBI interviewed Kaylon Johnson and are now investigating the beating. Our sources in the department confirm an investigation is underway.
Johnson said back on Monday that his attackers used racial threats against him. The 32-year-old will undergo two different rounds of surgery to repair his eye socket, nose and tear duct on Friday.

A fund has been set up for Johnson to help with his health care and legal bills. Donations can be made to:
Bank Name: Capital One
Account Name: Kaylon R Johnson Donation Account
Account Number: 5731909948

SHREVEPORT, LA (KSLA) - A 32-year-old Shreveport man is now recovering at home after he says he was badly beaten at a west Shreveport gas station for wearing a Barack Obama t-shirt.

Kaylon Johnson says he now has a broken nose and eye socket after the brutal attack that he says was racially motivated and brought on by the t-shirt. "They were screaming "f" Obama, f***. Obama something about a n**** president, basically you know I was hit."

This all happened Saturday night around 11:30 at the Citgo on Industrial Drive off of I-20. He says he had already pumped gas and was walking out of the store with a drink when he was attacked. "Seem like some red necks, they're pretty big guys and they were blasting music or whatever, mean by the time I turned around and looked at him they were on me." Johnson says all he remembers after that was hitting his car door.

Johnson has been heavily involved in the Obama campaign and has even opened up a store on North Market where he sells Obama shirts. He says the beating will not distract him. "Things go on every day and all this seems is it shows that we do have purpose throughout the campaign and we still have work to do after the campaign."

Johnson was discharged on Sunday but he says he will still have to undergo surgery to fix his broken nose and fractured eye socket. He says he can't blow his nose which constantly drips blood because doctors fear it may be shattered and break even more.

Shreveport police say they are investigating and the FBI may also get involved to determine if this is a hate crime.

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