A fishing trip on Lake Shirley over Memorial Day weekend was disrupted when Sheron Brown and his 10-year-old daughter were confronted by 66-year-old David McPartlan, who allegedly threw rocks and used a racial slur. According to Boston.com, McPartlan is facing charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault to intimidate.
Brown captured part of the incident on video and posted it to social media. In the video, McPartlan can be heard saying, "Oh yeah, I’m throwing rocks at you (n-word)," as Boston.com reported. The rocks did not cause injury or damage, but Brown contacted the police following the incident.
The Ayer Police Department confirmed that Brown had been fishing in a no wake zone near McPartlan’s dock and swimming area. McPartlan asked Brown to move, and the situation escalated. McPartlan admitted to police that he used a racial slur and threw rocks, saying he was frustrated by Brown’s proximity to his property.
In an interview with CBS News, Brown said he was disappointed to have to explain the incident to his daughter. He also said he wanted to show her the importance of standing up in difficult situations.
McPartlan is scheduled to be arraigned on June 16 at Fitchburg District Court. Brown, who has been fishing competitively and recreationally since 1998, said this was his first encounter with racism at Lake Shirley.
