Federal hate crime expenses introduced 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 read

Hate crime prices have been announced against a person accused of planning to fatally shoot customers and employees of two Jonesboro, Georgia, convenience 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 business.

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

“No person should be afraid to buy or go to work in our group. Nor should people have to fret that they may be violently attacked because of the color of their skin,” U.S. Attorney 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 is being charged underneath the Matthew Shepard-James Byrd Hate Crime Prevention Act, which makes it a federal crime to willfully trigger bodily harm, or attempt to take action utilizing a harmful weapon because of the victim’s actual or perceived race, shade, faith or national origin.

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

The charges towards Foxworth come within the wake of the mass capturing 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 Legal professional General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division stated. “Thankfully no one was injured by the conduct alleged on this case, however the Justice Division is dedicated to using all of the instruments in our law 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 at the Department of Justice, Aug. 5, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

This is the first time in about eight years that hate crime costs have been filed in the Northern District of Georgia, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Workplace instructed 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.