DIRECTED RACIAL SLURS AND THREATENED VICTIMS WITH BODILY HARM
According to a press release issued by the United States Department of Justice, "FEP," a 27-year-old Florida man, is alleged to have “intimidated” and “interfered” with two black women’s “enjoyment of federal protected activities because of their race and color.”
“Victim 1” was a Jacksonville, Florida, convenience store clerk. When FEP’s credit card was declined, he became irate and “scolded” the woman, “directing racial slurs at her.” He is then said to have retrieved a shotgun from his vehicle, pointed same at Victim 1, loaded a bullet in the chamber – which caused the woman to “runaway in fear.”
“Victim 2” was sitting in her walker on a public sidewalk, when FEB approached, “directed racial slurs at her and told he she could not sit where she was.” He also threatened to kill the woman. And to that end, returned with his shotgun and fired a single shot.
While sentencing has yet to be scheduled, REP faces up to a decade in prison, three years of mandatory supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000.
In a written statement, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, observed, “The defendant is being held accountable for targeting two Black women with a gun on two separate days because of their race and because they were engaging in federally protected activities …. Racially motivated threats and acts of violence have no place in our society today. The Justice Department stands ready to investigate and prosecute individuals who target Black people with threats and acts of violence.”
Was that a shotgun approach?
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