Federal hate crime expenses introduced against man accused of plotting racist capturing in Georgia

The person allegedly shot into two grocery stores in Jonesboro, Georgia.

19 Could 2022, 13:58

• 3 min read

Hate crime prices have been introduced against a person accused of planning to fatally shoot prospects and workers of two Jonesboro, Georgia, convenience shops.

Larry Edward Foxworth allegedly fired a gun repeatedly into two comfort stores at 2:30 a.m. on July 30, 2021. Each stores were open for business.

The indictment alleges that Foxworth, who is white, was motivated to shoot into the stores due to the perceived race, shade or national origin of the individuals inside the stores.

“No particular person must be afraid to buy or go to work in our neighborhood. Nor should individuals have to fret that they might be violently attacked because of the color of their pores and skin,” U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said in a statement.

Foxworth was charged with two counts of committing a federal hate crime and discharging a firearm to commit a violent crime. He has not yet entered a plea.

He is being charged underneath the Matthew Shepard-James Byrd Hate Crime Prevention Act, which makes it a federal crime to willfully cause bodily damage, or try to do so using a dangerous weapon due to the victim’s precise or perceived race, color, religion or nationwide origin.

Clayton County is a predominantly Black neighborhood, making up 72.8% of the inhabitants, based on the U.S. Census Bureau.

The fees in opposition to Foxworth come within the wake of the mass capturing at a Buffalo, New York, grocery store.

The 18-year-old suspect in Buffalo shot and killed 10 individuals, injuring three others, in what authorities have described as a racially motivated rampage.

“Hate-fueled violence has no place in a civilized society,” Assistant Legal professional Normal Kristen Clarke of the Justice Division’s Civil Rights Division stated. “Thankfully nobody was injured by the conduct alleged on this case, but the Justice Division is dedicated to utilizing all of the tools in our law enforcement arsenal to prosecute allegations of hate crimes.”

U.S. Assistant Lawyer Common for the Civil Rights Division Kristen Clarke speaks throughout a information convention at the Division of Justice, Aug. 5, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

This is the first time in about eight years that hate crime expenses have been filed within the Northern District of Georgia, a spokesperson for the U.S. Lawyer’s Office advised ABC News.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Clayton County Police Department.

ABC Information' Luke Barr contributed to this report.