ATLANTA — A federal grand jury is accusing a man of committing hate crimes in Georgia, a U.S. Department of Justice news release reads. U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan announced the charges in front of the federal courthouse in Atlanta Wednesday.
Buchanan said Larry Edward Foxworth, of Jonesboro, has been indicted on two counts of committing a federal hate crime and two counts of discharging a firearm in furthering crimes of violence.
Foxworth is accused of firing a pistol in two separate shootings around 2:30 a.m. on July 30, 2021, at two Jonesboro convenience stores, Buchanan said.
"In an attempt to kill people based on their race, color, or national origin," the attorney said of Foxworth's actions.
The separate shootings occurred in the early morning hours -- but, Buchanan said, Foxworth's actions showed that he was targeting people as both stores were open for business.
"No person should be afraid to shop or to work in our community," Buchanan said. "Nor should people have to worry they may be violently attacked because of the color of their skin."
Foxworth is formally charged with violating the Matthew Shepard-James Byrd Hate Crime Prevention Act, which was passed in 2009. The 48-year-old's case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Clayton County Police Department, according to the DOJ.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Alan Gray and Trial Attorney Alec Ward of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.