Federal hate crime charges introduced against man accused of plotting racist taking pictures in Georgia

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

19 Could 2022, 13:58

• 3 min read

Hate crime charges have been introduced against a man accused of planning to fatally shoot prospects and staff 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. Each stores have been open for business.

The indictment alleges that Foxworth, who's white, was motivated to shoot into the shops due to the perceived race, coloration or national origin of the people contained in the stores.

“No particular person needs to be afraid to shop or go to work in our neighborhood. Nor should folks have to worry that they could be violently attacked because of the colour of their skin,” U.S. Lawyer Ryan Okay. Buchanan said 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 yet entered a plea.

He's being charged underneath the Matthew Shepard-James Byrd Hate Crime Prevention Act, which makes it a federal crime to willfully cause bodily harm, or attempt to do so using a harmful weapon because of the sufferer’s precise or perceived race, color, faith or nationwide origin.

Clayton County is a predominantly Black community, making up 72.8% of the population, in accordance with the U.S. Census Bureau.

The costs in opposition to Foxworth come within the wake of the mass capturing at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket.

The 18-year-old suspect in Buffalo shot and killed 10 folks, 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 Common Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division mentioned. “Thankfully no one was injured by the conduct alleged on this case, however the Justice Division is committed to using all of the tools in our regulation enforcement arsenal to prosecute allegations of hate crimes.”

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

That is the first time in about eight years that hate crime prices have been filed in the Northern District of Georgia, a spokesperson for the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace told 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.