Man hurling racial slurs opens fire on Black neighbor and his Georgia home, feds say
A man is accused of brandishing a revolver and opening fire on his Black neighbor in Georgia while hurling racial slurs at him, federal prosecutors said.
Mark Wheeler, 73, also shot at his neighbor’s home in Loganville on May 26 during the racially motivated attack, according to an indictment filed Oct. 24.
Wheeler, “by force and threat of force, willfully injured, intimidated, and interfered with … (the victim)” in violation of his civil rights and the Fair Housing Act, the indictment says.
Under the Fair Housing Act, discriminating against a person’s race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status or disabilities when they are renting or buying a home is illegal.
Wheeler was arrested on charges of interference with housing and possession of a firearm, the Justice Department announced in an Oct. 25 news release.
“My client maintains his innocence and is looking forward to his day in court,” Catherine M. Williams, a federal public defender representing Wheeler, told McClatchy News in a statement on Oct. 25.
“We are waiting on the discovery from the Government and will evaluate it when we receive it,” Williams added.
If Wheeler is convicted on both charges, he could be sentenced for up to 10 years in prison and face a $250,000 fine, the release said.
The FBI’s Atlanta Field Office is investigating Wheeler, according to prosecutors.
Loganville is about 30 miles northeast of Atlanta.
Man threatens to shoot Muslim men he says don’t belong in America, Illinois cops say
Man threatened to kill Black worker who didn’t give him Social Security card, feds say
Men shoot transgender woman with paintballs after she used women’s bathroom, feds say
