Fayetteville tire shop beating leads to hate crime charges

Eddie Willard Jr., 29, and Cody Jackson Razor, 22, both of Candlewood Drive in Fayetteville, also were charged Wednesday with simple assault.

Ronald Parrish told police that he bought a used tire Monday from Skibo Tires, at 2170 Skibo Road, and tried to return it the next day after noticing that it had a cut in it.

"'All I want for you is to replace my tire, and I can go on about my business,'" Parrish said he told the store employee. "He says, 'I'm not honoring your warranty.'"

When Parrish asked to talk with the store manager, several workers began beating and kicking him and using racial slurs, he told investigators.

"I was shocked because I couldn't understand why they had to make a racial incident over doing the right thing – honoring their own warranty," Parrish said Thursday.

He said he had to seek treatment at a hospital on Tuesday and has been bed-ridden at home since then.

"My back is having spasms (one) right behind another," he said.

Skibo Tires owner Michael McMillan refuted Parrish's version of the incident, saying it was Parrish who was combative.

"There's a big sign on my desk. There's no warranty on these tires," McMillan said. "He got in front of me, cussing and threatening and beating the side of his truck."

Parrish swung a jack at Willard and Razor, who are McMillan's stepsons, and they were trying to defend themselves, McMillan said.

"Racially motivated? That's nonsense," he said, maintaining that no slurs were used in the exchange. "The only motivation they had was to protect their father."

Willard is listed in court documents as the store manager of Skibo Tires, while Razor is an employee there.