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

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

19 Could 2022, 13:58

• 3 min read

Hate crime fees have been announced in opposition to a man accused of planning to fatally shoot prospects and employees of two Jonesboro, Georgia, convenience shops.

Larry Edward Foxworth allegedly fired a gun repeatedly into two comfort stores at 2:30 a.m. on July 30, 2021. Both stores have been open for business.

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

“No particular person ought to be afraid to buy or go to work in our group. Nor should folks have to worry that they might be violently attacked because of the colour of their pores and skin,” U.S. Attorney 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 trigger bodily injury, or attempt to take action utilizing a dangerous weapon because of the victim’s precise or perceived race, colour, faith or nationwide origin.

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

The fees in opposition to 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 said. “Thankfully no one was injured by the conduct alleged in this case, but 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 Attorney Normal for the Civil Rights Division Kristen Clarke speaks throughout a news convention at the Department of Justice, Aug. 5, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

This is the first time in about eight years that hate crime fees have been filed within the Northern District of Georgia, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Workplace instructed ABC News.

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.