Federal hate crime expenses introduced towards man accused of plotting racist capturing in Georgia

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

19 May 2022, 13:58

• 3 min read

Hate crime costs have been introduced against a man accused of planning to fatally shoot clients and employees of two Jonesboro, Georgia, convenience stores.

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

The indictment alleges that Foxworth, who's white, was motivated to shoot into the stores because of the perceived race, coloration or national origin of the people contained in the shops.

“No particular person needs to be afraid to shop or go to work in our community. Nor should individuals have to fret that they may be violently attacked because of the color of their skin,” U.S. Attorney Ryan Okay. Buchanan stated in a press release.

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 under 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 because of the victim’s actual or perceived race, colour, religion or national origin.

Clayton County is a predominantly Black neighborhood, making up 72.8% of the inhabitants, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The charges against 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 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 Legal professional Basic Kristen Clarke of the Justice Division’s Civil Rights Division said. “Fortunately no one was injured by the conduct alleged on this case, however the Justice Department is committed to using all the instruments in our law enforcement arsenal to prosecute allegations of hate crimes.”

U.S. Assistant Legal professional Common for the Civil Rights Division Kristen Clarke speaks throughout a news convention on 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 Office told ABC Information.

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

ABC News' Luke Barr contributed to this report.