People Are Questioning the Immediate Hate Crime Classification for the Fresno Shooter Accused of Killing Three White Men
A Tuesday shooting spree in Fresno, California, resulted in the death of three people in less than two minutes, according to police. All three victims were white and appeared to be chosen at random. Suspect Kori Ali Muhammad, 39, was taken into police custody soon after.
Although Muhammad, who is Black, yelled “Allahu Akbar” when arrested, police have classified his act as a hate crime, reported CNN.
"We do not believe ... that this is a terrorist-related crime," Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer told reporters. "This is solely based on race."
The shootings, which started around 10:45 a.m. local time, resulted in the death of a 34-year-old PG&E truck passenger, a 37-year-old and a 58-year-old. After shooting his final victim, police found Muhammad running down the street.
He surrendered to police, telling an officer, "I did it. I shot them," the police chief told reporters.
"You guys are looking for me," he also allegedly told them.
Muhammad was also accused of the April 13 killing of 25-year-old Carl Williams, an unarmed security guard at a Fresno Motel 6.
The classification sparked a debate about hate crimes and terrorism
Others questioned why other crimes, such as the Maryland killer, were not immediately called hate crimes
Or why many refused to call the killings done by Dylann Roof a hate crime
