Federal hate crime costs announced in opposition to man accused of plotting racist capturing in Georgia

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

19 May 2022, 13:58

• 3 min learn

Hate crime prices have been introduced against 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. Both stores were open for business.

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

“No person must be afraid to buy or go to work in our community. Nor should individuals have to worry that they may be violently attacked due to the color of their skin,” U.S. Legal professional Ryan Ok. Buchanan mentioned 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 yet entered a plea.

He's being charged below the Matthew Shepard-James Byrd Hate Crime Prevention Act, which makes it a federal crime to willfully trigger bodily injury, or try to take action using a harmful weapon due to the victim’s precise or perceived race, colour, faith or national origin.

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

The costs against Foxworth come within the wake of the mass shooting at a Buffalo, New York, grocery store.

The 18-year-old suspect in Buffalo shot and killed 10 individuals, 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 on this case, but the Justice Division is committed to using all the instruments in our regulation enforcement arsenal to prosecute allegations of hate crimes.”

U.S. Assistant Lawyer Common for the Civil Rights Division Kristen Clarke speaks during a news conference at the Division of Justice, Aug. 5, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

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