Discovery of Deceased Individual Amid Downtown Event Sparks Community Concern
A man was found hanging from a tree in downtown Raleigh this afternoon (August 15), near the site of the annual CaribMask Carnival. The discovery, made in the back parking lot of Whiskey Kitchen on West Martin Street, has sparked widespread concern and calls for answers as the Raleigh Police Department continues its investigation.
The location sits approximately two blocks from City Plaza, where the Caribbean festival was underway. A photograph circulating on social media shows the man hanging from a tree with a Raleigh Fire Department crew member visible nearby. No official statement has been released by police as of Saturday evening. The man’s identity, age, and cause of death remain unknown.
A Festival Day Interrupted by Tragedy
The 13th Annual CaribMask Carnival, organized by the Raleigh-Durham AfroCaribbean Association, had drawn hundreds of attendees to downtown Raleigh on Saturday. The free event featured a Parade of Bands starting at 11:00 a.m. along a route that included Salisbury Street and Davie Street. It was followed by a Festival Village at City Plaza continuing until about 8:00 p.m. Activities included traditional Caribbean cuisine vendors, arts and crafts, live entertainment, and a flag ceremony representing more than 15 countries.
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At 2:30 p.m., a Black man was found in the back parking lot area of Whiskey Kitchen on West Martin Street, a location not far from the festival grounds. A woman who works nearby informed The NC Beat of the discovery. An anonymous source reported that the man had been observed earlier in the day walking and talking to himself. A festival-goer on Martin Street stated that the man approached them and asked for water before continuing onward. After that, workers later checked the back lot and found him hanging from a tree…