Federal hate crime charges introduced in opposition to 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 costs have been introduced against a person accused of planning to fatally shoot prospects and workers of two Jonesboro, Georgia, comfort shops.

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

The indictment alleges that Foxworth, who's white, was motivated to shoot into the shops because of the perceived race, shade or nationwide origin of the individuals contained in the shops.

“No person needs to be afraid to shop or go to work in our community. Nor should folks have to fret that they might be violently attacked due to the colour of their pores and skin,” U.S. Attorney Ryan Okay. 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 trigger bodily harm, or try to do so using a dangerous weapon because of the victim’s precise or perceived race, coloration, religion or nationwide origin.

Clayton County is a predominantly Black community, making up 72.8% of the inhabitants, in response to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The costs against Foxworth come in the wake of the mass shooting at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket.

The 18-year-old suspect in Buffalo shot and killed 10 people, 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 mentioned. “Thankfully no one was injured by the conduct alleged on this case, but the Justice Department 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 news convention at the Department of Justice, Aug. 5, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

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

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.