Man, 32, is left with brain damage after 'being attacked by gang of 20 black men' in parking lot after being told Waffle House 'wasn't safe for white people after Ferguson'

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A West Point man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after he and a friend were attacked by a group of around 20 people in a Huddle House parking lot, police said, potentially as retaliation for Michael Brown's killing.

Ralph Weems IV, who is white, was injured early Saturday but is now in fair condition at North Mississippi Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Genie Causey said.

A relative, Bradley Barnes of Madison, told The Associated Press by telephone on Sunday that his brother-in-law was in a medically induced coma following brain surgery.

'They're going to try and wake him up tomorrow and see what damage was done,' Barnes said, describing Weems as a 32-year-old former Marine who had served in Iraq.

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Injured: Ralph Weems IV, pictured left and right, was injured early Saturday by a group of around 20 people

Scene: The allegedly beat down took place in the car park of this Huddle House in West Point

Police Chief Tim Brinkley told the Clarion-Ledger that 22-year-old Courtez McMillian of Okolona was arrested on Monday evening.

He is being held in the Clay County Detention Center and will be charged with aggravated assault.

Brinkley said other arrests are also pending, and that most, if not all of the assailants appear to come from Monroe County. Detectives are reviewing video footage of the incident.

David Knighten of West Point told AP earlier by phone that he and Weems had gone to a Waffle House early Saturday.

He said a black man waved him over outside the restaurant and told him politely that people were upset by the killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and it wasn't a safe place for whites.

Arrested: Courtez McMillian, 22, pictured, of Okolona was arrested on Monday evening

When he went in, he said, Weems was inside and was arguing with around seven black men.

They left after an argument that brought police, Knighten said.

Brinkley said a Waffle House employee told officers who answered a 1am disturbance call that a patron was creating a disturbance and upsetting other patrons. 

After he was asked to leave, employees also asked the other patrons to leave, Brinkley said.

Knighten said he showed those officers his .45-caliber handgun and his concealed carry permit. 

On the way to Weems' house, Knighten said, they went into a Huddle House restaurant with a nearly vacant parking lot.

However, he said, they apparently had been followed by a group of more than 20 black men.

Knighten, who said he had served with the Air Force in Afghanistan, said he came out of the restroom to find Weems surrounded.

'I was trying to defuse the situation,' he said.

After some shoving, he said, the security guard told everyone to leave.

Knighten said some people blocked him from leaving with Weems.

When he got out, he said, Weems was down and people were kicking him.

Knighten said others attacked him, adding 'I do remember racial slurs being yelled from the crowd.'

Fight: The fight was instigated at this Waffle House in West Point, but the m en were beaten in a parking lot of Huddle House nearby

Vet: Weems, pictured, is an Iraq War veteran

Knighten says he has broken bones in his face, a cut over his left eye and a blood clot in his right eye.

On Saturday he wrote on Facebook, 'All my injuries were minor fractures and lacerations. I just wish I could have reached him sooner. Please keep your thoughts and prayers on Ralph.'

Police did not arrive on the scene until after the crowd had left, he said.

Police said they were called to the Huddle House about 2am.

'This does not appear to be a hate crime,' Brinkley said in a police press release Sunday.

'We are investigating this as an aggravated assault. It's very early in this investigation but thus far the evidence and statements suggest that a verbal altercation turned physical and somebody got hurt.'

Brinkley later encouraged those involved in the crime to come forward voluntarily before arrest warrants are issued.

He said it was down to the District Attorney's office and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation to determine if the incident was a hate crime.

'It's up to the Grand Jury to make this determination. All we do is process the evidence and turn the case over to the District Attorney who in turn presents it to the Grand Jury. It's within their discretion to add the hate crime enhancement,' Brinkley said.