Michael J. Mitchell, African American Teen, Shoots Dan Azeff Because he Wore Hat with Confederate Symbol and Carried Confederate Flag

Wearing the Confederate Flag as a fashion statement may not be a good idea. Well, at least not to Michael J. Mitchell. According to the Sun Sentinel, Mitchell and a group of friends were hanging out at a popular nighttime gathering spot in Sarasota, when they ran into Dan A. Azeff, who was also hanging out with his buddies. Azeff, however, wore a hat with the Confederate symbol and carried a Confederate flag, which reportedly measured about five feet by three feet. Mitchell reportedly shot Azeff in the chest as a result of the confrontation.

Michael J. Mitchell and a friend asked Azeff about the hat and flag and then asked if he was a racist. Azeff told them no, he was just exercising free speech. The fight escalated and the groups exchanged racial slurs. Mitchell reportedly pulled out a handgun and shot Azeff once in the chest, then ran off, reports the Sarasota Herald Tribune. Azeff was fascinated by the rebel flag, his grandfather said. "But he did not know what it truly meant. To him it was just a flag."

So, Azeff just accessorized with the Confederate flag oblivious to its meaning, good and bad? Wow. That's akin to wearing a swastika without a clue who Adolf Hitler was? Kid, do yourself a favor and take up a history book some time. His grandfather made reference to the fact that he seem to be hanging around the wrong crowd, hence the Confederate symbols and to many, that is considered race baiting. Well, his actions fall within the freedom of speech clause in our Constitution, and though totally disgusting, his actions were legal.

To Michael Mitchell, would you like someone to shoot you in the chest because of a flag? This young man is a student at the Sarasota Military Academy and his coach, Sgt. Major Mike Collis, said that Mitchell's involvement in the scuffle was "completely unexpected and completely out of character." Really? Why is this teen running around with a gun and why would he carry one to hang out with his friends, unless of course, he was looking for trouble? He needs to be held accountable for the shooting of this man. Pulling the trigger on a gun is no way to solve conflicts and I guess this begs the question of whether or not his parents knew he had a gun to begin with.