Man claims that 7-year-old racist joke led to murder

Joann Loviglio:

A black man shot a white former co-worker to death on Easter, claiming he did it because he overheard the victim telling a racist joke seven years ago, authorities said Monday.

Stanford A. Douglas Jr., 29, was arrested Sunday after a two-hour standoff with police. He was charged with murder and jailed without bail.

Douglas allegedly shot William Berkeyheiser, 62, three times in the chest and shoulder on March 27 after he opened the front door of his home.

Douglas told investigators he had thought about killing Berkeyheiser ever since he overheard Berkeyheiser tell someone a joke with racial overtones in 1998, Bucks County District Attorney Diane Gibbons said. Douglas refused to recount for detectives the joke that made him so angry, according to court papers.

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Suspect blames racist joke