Federal hate crime expenses announced against man accused of plotting racist shooting in Georgia

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

19 May 2022, 13:58

• 3 min read

Hate crime fees have been introduced towards a person accused of planning to fatally shoot clients and employees of two Jonesboro, Georgia, comfort shops.

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

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

“No individual must be afraid to buy or go to work in our neighborhood. Nor ought to people have to fret that they may be violently attacked due to the colour of their skin,” U.S. Lawyer Ryan Ok. 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 but 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 cause bodily harm, or try to do so utilizing a harmful weapon due to the victim’s precise or perceived race, color, religion or national origin.

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

The fees towards 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 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 General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Division’s Civil Rights Division mentioned. “Thankfully no one was injured by the conduct alleged on this case, however the Justice Division is dedicated to utilizing all of the tools in our law enforcement arsenal to prosecute allegations of hate crimes.”

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

This is the first time in about eight years that hate crime expenses have been filed within the Northern District of Georgia, a spokesperson for the U.S. Legal professional’s Office informed 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.