Federal hate crime costs introduced in opposition to man accused of plotting racist capturing in Georgia

The man allegedly shot into two grocery shops in Jonesboro, Georgia.

19 Might 2022, 13:58

• 3 min learn

Hate crime charges have been introduced against a person accused of planning to fatally shoot customers and staff of two Jonesboro, Georgia, convenience shops.

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

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

“No person ought to be afraid to buy or go to work in our community. Nor should folks have to worry that they might be violently attacked because of the colour of their pores and skin,” U.S. Legal professional Ryan K. Buchanan stated in a press release.

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's being charged under the Matthew Shepard-James Byrd Hate Crime Prevention Act, which makes it a federal crime to willfully trigger bodily damage, or attempt to take action using a harmful weapon because of the sufferer’s precise or perceived race, color, faith or nationwide origin.

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

The charges towards Foxworth come in the wake of the mass capturing at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket.

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 Normal Kristen Clarke of the Justice Division’s Civil Rights Division said. “Thankfully no one was injured by the conduct alleged on this case, but the Justice Division is committed to using all of the instruments in our legislation enforcement arsenal to prosecute allegations of hate crimes.”

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

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