Federal hate crime prices announced against man accused of plotting racist capturing in Georgia

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

19 Could 2022, 13:58

• 3 min read

Hate crime prices have been announced in opposition to a man accused of planning to fatally shoot prospects and workers of two Jonesboro, Georgia, convenience stores.

Larry Edward Foxworth allegedly fired a gun repeatedly into two comfort stores at 2:30 a.m. on July 30, 2021. Each stores were open for business.

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 contained in the shops.

“No person should be afraid to buy 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. Lawyer Ryan K. Buchanan said 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 underneath the Matthew Shepard-James Byrd Hate Crime Prevention Act, which makes it a federal crime to willfully cause bodily harm, or try to take action utilizing a dangerous weapon because of the victim’s actual or perceived race, colour, religion or national 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, 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 Legal professional Normal Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said. “Fortunately no one was injured by the conduct alleged in this case, but the Justice Division is committed to using all the tools in our legislation enforcement arsenal to prosecute allegations of hate crimes.”

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

This is the primary time in about eight years that hate crime charges have been filed in 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 Information' Luke Barr contributed to this report.