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A South Carolina man, Jonathan Andrew Felkel, 34, copped a plea in federal court today, admitting he shot his Black neighbor, identified only as J.M., because of his race. The incident, prosecuted in the Northern District of Alabama, isn’t about a simple dispute – it’s a cold, calculated act of racial hatred.
Felkel pleaded guilty to violating federal law – specifically 42 U.S.C. §. 3631 – which protects housing rights. The DOJ says this wasn’t just an assault; it was a deliberate attack designed to intimidate J.M. and deny him the peaceful enjoyment of his home. Sources close to the investigation say the shooting stemmed from long-simmering racial animosity.
While details of the shooting itself remain sparse, the guilty plea confirms the racial motivation, a crucial element in securing a federal civil rights conviction. Felkel now faces significant prison time. Sentencing is pending before U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis, and the feds haven’t revealed if a plea deal was struck.
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