Federal hate crime expenses announced towards 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 learn

Hate crime charges have been introduced towards a person accused of planning to fatally shoot customers and workers 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. Each shops have been open for enterprise.

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

“No person needs to be afraid to shop or go to work in our neighborhood. Nor should people have to fret that they may be violently attacked because of the color of their skin,” U.S. Lawyer Ryan Okay. Buchanan said in an announcement.

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 is being charged below the Matthew Shepard-James Byrd Hate Crime Prevention Act, which makes it a federal crime to willfully cause bodily damage, or attempt to take action using a harmful weapon due to the sufferer’s actual or perceived race, shade, religion or nationwide origin.

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

The fees towards Foxworth come in the wake of the mass shooting 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 stated. “Fortunately no one was injured by the conduct alleged in this case, however the Justice Division is committed to utilizing all of the tools in our legislation enforcement arsenal to prosecute allegations of hate crimes.”

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

That is the primary time in about eight years that hate crime prices have been filed within the Northern District of Georgia, a spokesperson for the U.S. Lawyer’s Office advised ABC News.

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.