Florida Man Sentenced for Racially Motivated Attacks with Shotgun

Frederick Eugene Pierallini III, a 27-year-old Florida man, has been handed a 60-month prison sentence and three years of supervised release for committing two federal hate crimes. The attacks targeted two Black women using a gun in Jacksonville, Florida.

The federal hate crimes occurred on September 10 and 12, 2022. In the first incident, Pierallini, who was attempting to buy snacks at a convenience store, became agitated when his card was declined. He then directed racial slurs at the clerk, Victim 1, and returned with a shotgun, pointing it at her. Victim 1 escaped in fear.

Two days later, Pierallini approached Victim 2, who was sitting on a public sidewalk, and directed racial slurs at her. He threatened to kill her and later returned with a shotgun, firing a single shot. Victim 2 sustained injuries when she fell to the ground, but was not hit by the bullet.

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is committed to protecting Black people from racially-motivated violence. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke stated, “The defendant is being held accountable for targeting two Black women with a gun on two separate days because of their race.”

U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg added, “The violent assaults committed against these two women because of their race are intolerable. There is no place in our society for such heinous acts.”

The FBI, along with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Washington and Trial Attorney Anna Gotfryd prosecuted the case. Pierallini will serve 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his crimes.

The case highlights the importance of investigating and prosecuting hate crimes. Hate crimes like these are not only attacks on the victims but are meant to threaten and intimidate an entire community, said Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division.