Fleeta Drumgo
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Fleeta Drumgo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | May 31, 1946 Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | November 24, 1979 (aged 33) Oakland, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Gunshot wounds |
| Other names | Comrade Fleeta |
| Organization | Black Guerrilla Family |
Fleeta Drumgo (May 31, 1946 – November 24, 1979) was an American convict and one of the Soledad Brothers, who were three African-American inmates accused of killing prison guard John Vincent Mills on January 16, 1970.[1] Following this, Drumgo participated in an escape attempt from San Quentin Prison on August 21, 1971, which resulted in the deaths of three prison guards and three inmates, including George Jackson, who led the escape attempt.[2]
In 1976, Drumgo was acquitted for both the murder of John Vincent Mills and for his role in the 1971 escape attempt from San Quentin Prison.[3] After being released, he moved to the Bay Area, where he was murdered in 1979.[4] While his killers were never apprehended, it is believed that Drumgo was murdered for trying to sell information to law enforcement regarding the shooting of Fay Stender, a lawyer who represented the Soledad Brothers.[4]
Drumgo was born on May 31, 1946, in Shreveport, Louisiana, and moved to Los Angeles at the age of 14.[2] After moving to Los Angeles, Drumgo was placed in Preston School of Industry until 1963.[2] Upon his release, he was arrested for attempted murder[2][5] after Drumgo fired a shot at the ceiling during a fight with his stepfather.[6] and was imprisoned until 1966.[6]
During the early hours of December 16, 1966, Drumgo and an accomplice attempted to burglarize Martin's Radio Center in South Gate.[7] However, the pair fled when a night watchman fired shots at them.[7] The getaway car was tracked down to a woman's apartment where Drumgo was staying. After he was arrested, Drumgo was charged with second-degree burglary was given a six‐month to 15‐year sentence.[3]
During his time at Soledad Prison, Drumgo became acquainted with George Jackson, who introduced Drumgo to communist ideology.[8] Furthermore, Drumgo became a member of the Black Guerrilla Family, a Marxist-Leninist organisation which aimed to eradicate racism and overthrow the United States government.[9]
Murder of John Vincent Mills
On January 13, 1970, a new exercise yard was opened in the maximum security wing of Soledad Prison. Despite the racial tensions which existed between black and white inmates, the prison authorities allowed a group of black inmates to use the yard at the same time as a group of white inmates.[10] A fight broke out between the black and white inmates, during which Opie G. Miller, a tower guard who had a reputation as an "expert marksman,"[10] fired four shots, which resulted in the deaths of three black inmates and the wounding of one white inmate.
Three days after the shooting, the Monterey County Grand Jury concluded that the killings were justifiable homicides. Within half an hour of the verdict being announced on the prison radio, a white prison guard named John Vincent Mills was beaten and thrown off a third-floor cell tier, which resulted in his death.[10] On Mills' body, a note with the message "One down, two to go" was found.[10]
On February 28, Drumgo, along with George Jackson and John Clutchette, were indicted by the Monterey County Grand Jury for first-degree murder.[10] While awaiting trial, the three inmates were placed in the O-Wing of Soledad Prison, which was the maximum security wing of the prison.