Investigators are trying to find out what led up to a deadly encounter outside a Belchertown bar.

Prosecutors say racist comments may have driven the suspect, Andre Dewdney of Palmer, to run over the victim, Joe Mailhott of Belchertown. Mailhott's family is trying to deal with the grief that is compounded by the fact that some are accusing Mailhott of making racists comments about Dewdney, who is black.

Police say Mailhott was run-over outside of McCarthy's pub in Belchertown. Officers found Mailhott lying on the ground, they say he and Andre Dewdney had been arguing. Mailhott banged on the hood of Dewdney's jeep and police say Dewdney drove over him, then went home to Palmer. Police found Dewdney and he is now in custody. But that doesn't make it any easier for Joanne Mailhott, Joe's cousin. "I've known Joey since he was born and he was always a loving person, I've never seen him judge anybody.

Dewdney is being held on $30,000 bail as he awaits his pre-trail at the end of November.

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