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

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

19 May 2022, 13:58

• 3 min learn

Hate crime fees have been announced in opposition to a person accused of planning to fatally shoot clients and staff of two Jonesboro, Georgia, comfort stores.

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

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

“No particular person should be afraid to shop or go to work in our community. Nor ought to people have to worry that they may be violently attacked due to the color of their skin,” U.S. Attorney Ryan K. 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 is being charged below the Matthew Shepard-James Byrd Hate Crime Prevention Act, which makes it a federal crime to willfully trigger bodily damage, or attempt to take action utilizing a harmful weapon because of the victim’s actual or perceived race, coloration, religion or national origin.

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

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

The 18-year-old suspect in Buffalo shot and killed 10 folks, 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 stated. “Thankfully nobody was injured by the conduct alleged on this case, however the Justice Division is dedicated to utilizing all the instruments 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 information convention at the Division of Justice, Aug. 5, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

This is the primary time in about eight years that hate crime costs have been filed within the Northern District of Georgia, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office informed ABC Information.

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

ABC Information' Luke Barr contributed to this report.