Federal hate crime costs introduced towards man accused of plotting racist taking pictures in Georgia

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

19 May 2022, 13:58

• 3 min learn

Hate crime costs have been announced against a man accused of planning to fatally shoot prospects 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 stores were open for enterprise.

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

“No particular person ought to be afraid to shop or go to work in our community. Nor should folks have to worry that they might be violently attacked because of the color of their pores and skin,” U.S. Attorney Ryan K. 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 but entered a plea.

He's being charged underneath the Matthew Shepard-James Byrd Hate Crime Prevention Act, which makes it a federal crime to willfully cause bodily damage, or try to do so using a dangerous weapon due to the victim’s actual or perceived race, colour, religion or nationwide origin.

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

The costs towards Foxworth come in the wake of the mass capturing 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 Lawyer Common Kristen Clarke of the Justice Division’s Civil Rights Division stated. “Fortunately nobody was injured by the conduct alleged on this case, however the Justice Division is committed to utilizing all the instruments in our regulation enforcement arsenal to prosecute allegations of hate crimes.”

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

That is the primary 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 told 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.