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

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

19 Might 2022, 13:58

• 3 min read

Hate crime fees have been introduced towards a man accused of planning to fatally shoot clients and workers of two Jonesboro, Georgia, comfort stores.

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

The indictment alleges that Foxworth, who's white, was motivated to shoot into the stores because of the perceived race, color or national origin of the folks contained in the stores.

“No person must be afraid to buy or go to work in our neighborhood. Nor ought to folks have to worry that they might be violently attacked because of the color of their pores and skin,” U.S. Lawyer Ryan Ok. 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's being charged beneath the Matthew Shepard-James Byrd Hate Crime Prevention Act, which makes it a federal crime to willfully cause bodily damage, or try to take action utilizing a dangerous weapon due to the victim’s actual or perceived race, color, religion or nationwide origin.

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

The charges against Foxworth come in the wake of the mass taking pictures at a Buffalo, New York, grocery store.

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 Attorney Common Kristen Clarke of the Justice Division’s Civil Rights Division said. “Thankfully no one was injured by the conduct alleged on this case, however the Justice Department is committed to utilizing all the tools in our law enforcement arsenal to prosecute allegations of hate crimes.”

U.S. Assistant Attorney Common for the Civil Rights Division Kristen Clarke speaks during a information 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 within the Northern District of Georgia, a spokesperson for the U.S. Legal professional’s Office advised ABC Information.

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

ABC Information' Luke Barr contributed to this report.