Federal hate crime prices announced against man accused of plotting racist taking pictures in Georgia

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

19 May 2022, 13:58

• 3 min learn

Hate crime charges have been introduced towards a man accused of planning to fatally shoot clients and workers of two Jonesboro, Georgia, convenience shops.

Larry Edward Foxworth allegedly fired a gun repeatedly into two convenience shops at 2:30 a.m. on July 30, 2021. Both 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, colour or nationwide origin of the individuals contained in the shops.

“No individual ought to be afraid to buy or go to work in our neighborhood. Nor ought to folks have to fret that they may be violently attacked due to the colour of their skin,” U.S. Attorney 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 yet 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 harm, or try to do so utilizing a harmful weapon because of the victim’s actual or perceived race, color, faith or nationwide origin.

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

The fees against Foxworth come within the wake of the mass taking pictures 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 Attorney Common Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division mentioned. “Fortunately 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 legislation enforcement arsenal to prosecute allegations of hate crimes.”

U.S. Assistant Lawyer Normal for the Civil Rights Division Kristen Clarke speaks throughout a news conference on the Department of Justice, Aug. 5, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

That 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. Legal professional’s Office advised ABC News.

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

ABC News' Luke Barr contributed to this report.