Fleeta Drumgo
BornMay 31, 1946
Shreveport, Louisiana
DiedNovember 24, 1979
Oakland, California
Cause of deathGunshot wounds
Other namesComrade Fleeta
OrganizationBlack Guerrilla Family

Fleeta Drumgo (May 31, 1946 - November 24, 1979) was an American convict who was one of the Soledad Brothers, who were three African-American inmates accused of killing prison guard John Vincent Mills in 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]

Early life and imprisonment

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 the 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 fire shots at them.[7] A car which was used in the getaway 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 and became a member of the Black Guerrilla Family, a Marxist-Leninist organisation which aimed to eradicate racism and overthrow the United States government.[8]

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.[9] 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",[9] 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 homicide. 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.[9] On Mills' body, a note with the message "One down, two to go" was found.[9]

On February 28, Drumgo, along with George Jackson and John Clutchette were indicted by the Monterey County Grand Jury for first-degree murder.[9] While awaiting trial, the three inmates were placed in the O-Wing of Soledad Prison, which was the maximum security wing of the prison.

Alleged Escape attempt from San Quentin Prison

On August 21, 1971, George Jackson made an alleged escape attempt from San Quentin Prison, where the Soledad Brothers had been transferred. During the early hours of the day, Jackson allegedly told Drumgo:[5]

"Saturday, August 21, 1971. This is a day the motherfuckers will remember: the day we got the gun in"

Some time between 1:15pm[10] and 1:20pm,[5] Jackson went to a visiting room to meet Stephen Bingham, who was an attorney investigating conditions in the adjustment center with a view to possible litigation. With Bingham, there was a woman who gave her name as Vanitia Anderson on the prison visitor register.[10] Anderson carried a briefcase containing a tape recorder,[10] Bingham was with her to ensure she was able to visit Jackson, since there had been a recent change in visiting rules. After her visit was denied, Bingham agreed to visit Jackson and wait while he reviewed copies of galleys of his book, Blood in My Eye. As he was about to go into his visit, the visiting room guard said "Aren't you going to take the tape recorder in?" Anderson then offered the tape recorder to Bingham, which he took to the visiting room.[5] During this meeting, according to prison authorities, Jackson opened the tape recorder, in which a pistol was hidden,[5] took the pistol and hid it under a wig which authorities say Bingham brought with him.[10] Without conducting any further investigation, authorities charged Bingham with bringing the gun in. Seeing that he was being framed by law enforcement authorities and fearing he would be killed by prison guards if he surrendered, Bingham fled the country for 13 years, surrendering to authorities on July 9, 1984. He always maintained his innocence and was acquitted by a Marin County jury of all charges on June 27,1986.

After the meeting, according to authorities, Jackson was escorted back to the Adjustment Center by Officer Fleming, Authorities allege that Officer Urbano Rubiaco noticed something sticking out of Jackson's hair. Authorities said that, after Rubiaco reached towards Jackson, he jumped aside and pulled the pistol out from his wig,[10] took Rubiaco hostage and forced him to flip a switch, which opened all the cell doors.[11]

During the ensuing prison riot, Officers McCray and Krasenes were also taken hostage and forced to lie down. Drumgo kicked Krasenes in the face several times.[5] During the riot, three guards and three inmates were killed, including George Jackson.[10]

Release and murder

Drumgo was released from prison on August 26, 1976, after being acquitted for his involvement in the escape attempt on August 21, 1971.[3]

After his release, Drumgo moved to the Bay Area[4] and had a difficult time adjusting to life outside of prison. He often asked others to pay his bills and he stole from his friends. Drumgo seemed so depressed during this time that his attorney's assistant was worried that Drumgo wanted to commit suicide.[12]

On May 28, 1979, Fay Stender, a lawyer who represented the Soledad Brothers, was shot in her home by a member of the Black Guerrilla Family, who accused Stender of betraying George Jackson and the prison movement.[13] A week after the attempted murder of Stender, Drumgo approached his attorney Charles Garry and claimed that he knew of the plans to shoot Fay two weeks before it happened. Drumgo alleged that Hugo Pinell, who was also part of the San Quentin Six, ordered the shooting of Stender.[4]

On November 24, 1979, Drumgo was shot dead in Oakland. While his killers were never apprehended, it is believed that Drumgo was murdered for trying to sell information to law enforcement.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "THE SOLEDAD CASE HEADING FOR JURY". The New York Times. March 19, 1972. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Jordan, Fania Davis (1974). "The San Quentin Six: A Case of Vengeance". The Black Scholar. 5 (6): 44–50. ISSN 0006-4246.
  3. 1 2 3 "Drumgo, Acquitted in San Quentin Case, Is Freed". The New York Times. August 26, 1976. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Falcoila, Luca (2022). Up Against the Law: Radical Lawyers and Social Movements, 1960s–1970s. University of North Carolina Press. p. 217. ISBN 9781469670300.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Howard, Clark (1981). American Saturday. R. Marek Publishers. ISBN 0399901205.
  6. 1 2 Andrews, Lori B. (1999). Black Power, White Blood: The Life and Times of Johnny Spain. Temple University Press. p. 81. ISBN 9781566397506.
  7. 1 2 "People v. Drumgo". JUSTIA US Law. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  8. ↑ Burton-Rose, Daniel (2010). Creating a Movement with Teeth: A Documentary History of the George Jackson Brigade. PM Press. ISBN 9781604864618.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Williams, Talib (April 4, 2020). "Soledad uncensored: Racism and the hyper-policing of Black bodies, Part 1". San Francisco Bay View. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Turner, Wallace (September 3, 1971). "Two Desperate Hours: How George Jackson Died". The New York Times.
  11. ↑ Andrews, Lori B. (1999). Black Power, White Blood: The Life and Times of Johnny Spain. Temple University Press. p. 159. ISBN 9781566397506.
  12. ↑ Andrews, Lori B. (1999). Black Power, White Blood: The Life and Times of Johnny Spain. Temple University Press. p. 250. ISBN 9781566397506.
  13. ↑ Andrews, Lori B. Black Power, White Blood: The Life and Times of Johnny Spain. Temple University Press. p. 251. ISBN 9781566397506.
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