Federal hate crime costs announced in opposition to man accused of plotting racist taking pictures in Georgia

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

19 Might 2022, 13:58

• 3 min learn

Hate crime costs have been introduced 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 comfort stores at 2:30 a.m. on July 30, 2021. Each stores had been open for enterprise.

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

“No individual must be afraid to shop or go to work in our group. Nor ought to individuals have to worry that they might be violently attacked due to the colour of their pores and skin,” U.S. Attorney Ryan Okay. 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 but entered a plea.

He's 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 take action utilizing a harmful weapon because of the victim’s precise or perceived race, shade, religion or national origin.

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

The charges against Foxworth come within the wake of the mass shooting 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 Lawyer General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Division’s Civil Rights Division stated. “Thankfully nobody was injured by the conduct alleged in this case, however the Justice Division is committed to using all of the instruments in our legislation enforcement arsenal to prosecute allegations of hate crimes.”

U.S. Assistant Lawyer Common for the Civil Rights Division Kristen Clarke speaks during a news 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 fees 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 News' Luke Barr contributed to this report.