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

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

19 Might 2022, 13:58

• 3 min learn

Hate crime charges have been introduced in opposition to a person 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 had been open for enterprise.

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

“No person must be afraid to shop or go to work in our group. Nor should individuals have to worry that they could be violently attacked because of the colour of their skin,” U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan mentioned in an announcement.

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 beneath the Matthew Shepard-James Byrd Hate Crime Prevention Act, which makes it a federal crime to willfully cause bodily harm, or attempt to take action using a harmful weapon due to the victim’s actual or perceived race, color, faith or national origin.

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

The charges 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. “Thankfully nobody was injured by the conduct alleged in this case, but the Justice Division is dedicated to using all of the tools in our legislation enforcement arsenal to prosecute allegations of hate crimes.”

U.S. Assistant Legal professional Normal for the Civil Rights Division Kristen Clarke speaks throughout a information convention on the Department of Justice, Aug. 5, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

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