His Name Is Bob Long: Prolific White Male Chess Author, 70, Murdered in His Iowa Home by 19-Year-Old Black Male
01/15/2020
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He had no “white privilege”.

He was a septuagenarian, a man of modest means, living in Davenport, Iowa.

His name is Bob Long. He was a prolific author of books dealing with chess.

He was a white man. You’ll never hear his name, unless you read one of his many books on chess, or live in Davenport, Iowa and learn about how he was strangled to death in a botched car robbery.

Mind you, his murderer was a black teenager.

UPDATE: Davenport murder suspect charged with assaulting, robbing Rock Island County man in October 2019, KWQC.com, January 9, 2020

According to Rock Island County Court documents, Charlie Gary III, 19, of Davenport is facing battery, theft, and robbery charges stemming from a case in October.

This is in addition to the homicide case where a 74-year-old man was strangled to death and found dead Tuesday evening in Davenport.

According to the criminal complaint, on October 27, 2019, Gary assaulted a 63-year-old man of Rock Island, striking him in the head with a TV and a lamp. The complaint also shows Gary reportedly stole the man’s vehicle and a 55′ flat-screen television.

Meanwhile, Davenport police tell TV6 there is no information that would indicate a cause for concern for community safety after the Davenport victim, Robert Long, 74, was killed.

Police say while the investigation is ongoing at this time, preliminary information shows the victim knew 19-year-old Charlie Gary III. Police say that information also shows they believe this was not a random incident.

Police say on Tuesday, just before 5:45 p.m., they were called to the 1500 block of LeClaire Street in reference to an unresponsive person. That man, 74-year-old Robert Long, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say Gary III, of Davenport, admitted to police that he went into the man’s home forcibly with the intent to steal the man’s car. Police say Gary III strangled Long, killing him and then stole property and his car and left the scene. Police say they later located Gary in Long’s vehicle when he was arrested.

Gary III has been charged with 1st-degree murder, 1st-degree robbery and 1st-degree burglary in reference to the incident. He’s currently being held at the Scott County Jail.

Gary III made his first appearance in Scott County Thursday morning via video arraignment.

The judge ordered Gary III to be held without bond and they set a preliminary hearing for January 17. The judge also informed Gary III that he was wanted out of Rock Island County on charges of robbery, theft and aggravated battery.

The judge did not take any action on the extradition matter and said the bond in the Illinois case is $100,000.

Outside of an incredibly niche community of chess enthusiasts, who will even remember the life of Bob Long, a white man strangled to death in his home by a black career criminal who had spent less than a score on earth?

Check-mate, bigot.

Rest in peace, Bob.

You weren’t just a pawn in the game of life, but a white man whose murder (and racial circumstances surrounding it) deserves a wider audience.

 

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