A few weeks ago, social media was outraged with our justice system, and how they dealt with the case of a young woman named Cyntoia Brown.

Cyntoia was forced into prostitution and ended up killing one of her clients out of self defense. At the age of 16, she was sentenced to life in prison for first degree murder, along with other charges. Brown’s case went viral after a post about her got the attention of celebrities including Rihanna and Kim Kardashian.

“Imagine at the age of 16 being sex-trafficked by a pimp named “cut-throat.” After days of being repeatedly drugged and raped by different men you were purchased by a 43-year-old child predator who took you to his home to use you for sex. You end up finding enough courage to fight back and shoot and kill him,” the post reads.”Your (sic) arrested as (sic) result tried and convicted as an adult and sentenced to life in prison,” it continues. “This is the story of Cyntoia Brown. She will be eligible for parole when she is 69 years old.”

After seeing this post I became interested in Cyntoia and her case. It didn’t make sense to me that someone that young was given life for defending herself from someone who was a criminal themselves (the victim solicited a prostitute). Despite most people who read this post and had no doubts it was completely true, I researched this case on my own and came up with my own opinion.

Cyntoia grew up in Nashville, Tennessee with her adoptive parents. Her parents were abusive so Cyntoia frequently ran away and this is when she became involved in prostitution. This is when she met a 24-year-old named “Cut Throat,” also known as her pimp, who would force her to do drugs and repeatedly rape her.

August 7, 2004, the day of the incident Brown and “Cut Throat” got into an argument, Brown left the hotel they were currently living at and walked to a nearby Sonic where she met the victim, 43-year-old Johnny Mitchell Allan. They both agreed on a price, and he took her to his home to engage in sexual activity. Allan knew she was a prostitute, and they both agreed and knew they were going to have sex. The part in the post that says “a child predator who took you to his home to use you for sex” is kind of a fabrication because it was a mutual agreement, but whatever.

When Brown arrived at Allan’s house she immediately felt uncomfortable with all the guns he had and the stories he was telling her about being a sharpshooter in the military. They then proceed into bed together and Allan was being aggressive towards her and she was not accepting his sexual advances. This is when Brown claims Allan reached down under his bed for what she thought was a gun, so she reached for the one she had in her purse, and shot him. Before leaving she took a few items including money and guns.

During her trial, Brown was tried as an adult and the prosecutors claimed her motive was not self defense, but to rob Allan. She was charged for first degree murder and aggravated robbery.

I completely side with Brown and her claim of self defense. She entered the home of a man she didn’t know, so going in she already had her guard up. Plus the fact that she knew he had guns and wasn’t afraid to use them. I believe that if the roles were reversed and Allan shot Brown and killed Brown out of self defense he wouldn’t be spending life in prison. Brown probably panicked and took whatever she saw in sight to be able to flee the scene, so yes she took some money. I don’t think those were her initial intentions for meeting Allan. She also suffered from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome so her brain was delayed and she can’t always process certain things like other people would. She had no one to turn to, no phone to call police. And she never denied killing Allan..

Brown has tried to appeal her sentence several times, but was never successful.  She was only 16 at the time she shouldn’t be charged as an adult anyway. If anything just give her 20 years or something, but not a life sentence for something she did at 16 years old. Hopefully with her case resurfacing and getting attention of people with power, Brown can get the justice she deserves.