Federal hate crime fees introduced in opposition to man accused of plotting racist shooting in Georgia

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

19 Might 2022, 13:58

• 3 min learn

Hate crime charges have been introduced in opposition to a man accused of planning to fatally shoot prospects and workers of two Jonesboro, Georgia, convenience stores.

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

The indictment alleges that Foxworth, who is white, was motivated to shoot into the shops due to the perceived race, color or nationwide origin of the people inside the shops.

“No particular person should be afraid to shop or go to work in our community. Nor ought to people have to fret that they might be violently attacked because of the colour of their pores and skin,” U.S. Lawyer Ryan Okay. Buchanan stated 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 but entered a plea.

He is being charged beneath the Matthew Shepard-James Byrd Hate Crime Prevention Act, which makes it a federal crime to willfully cause bodily injury, or try to do so using a dangerous weapon because of the victim’s actual or perceived race, colour, faith or national origin.

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

The charges towards Foxworth come in 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 Attorney Common Kristen Clarke of the Justice Division’s Civil Rights Division stated. “Fortunately no one was injured by the conduct alleged on this case, but the Justice Department is committed to utilizing all the instruments in our legislation enforcement arsenal to prosecute allegations of hate crimes.”

U.S. Assistant Legal professional Common for the Civil Rights Division Kristen Clarke speaks during a information convention on the Division of Justice, Aug. 5, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

This is the primary time in about eight years that hate crime costs have been filed in the Northern District of Georgia, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Workplace instructed ABC Information.

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

ABC News' Luke Barr contributed to this report.