Jonathan Andrew Felkel, Racially Motivated Attack, Columbia SC, 2025

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jonathan Andrew Felkel, 34-year-old resident of Columbia, has copped to violating the civil rights of his black neighbor, J.M., with a gun and some choice racial slurs. On July 17, 2025, Felkel drove into their gated community, saw J.M. at the gate, pulled the trigger, and shouted, ‘You better run, boy!’. His aim was to scare the hell out of J.M., he said, because in his twisted mind, being black meant being tied to ‘dangerous criminals.’ Felkel’s sentence? Up to 10 years for this hate-fueled attack. The judge’s gavel drops on a future date.

Felkel faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal lockup, $250,000 fine, and the walk of shame once he’s done. His trial team? Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle Klein and Lamar Fyall from the District of South Carolina, with Trial Attorney Sarah Armstrong from the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section handling the case.

Investigation by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department—no holding back when it comes to civil rights violations in these parts.