A racist fired inflicted a bullet-riddled campaign of terror on a black family because they put a Black Lives Matter poster in their front window.
Michael Frederick Jr, 24, grovelled for forgiveness in a court hearing in Detroit, Michigan on Tuesday after being arrested on charges that included ethnic intimidation of Eddie and Candace Hall.
He allegedly fired shots into their home in Warren, Michigan, and also painted a swastika on one of their vehicles, slashed their tires, and threw a large stone through their front window. The Halls also discovered that he had written ‘terrorist Black Lives Matter’ and ‘not welcome’ as well as another profanity-laden phrase on their pickup truck.
A neighbor’s home surveillance video showed a masked and hooded man carrying what appears to be a handgun outside the Halls’ home. Frederick later confessed to the crimes, police confirmed.
Frederick begged for forgiveness, but also added that his actions have been misinterpreted.
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‘This wasn’t about the color of anyone’s skin,’ he said. He has not offered further explanation for the racist graffiti he scrawled on the family’s property.
Frederick told Judge Michael Chupa that he wanted Eddie and Candace Hall to forgive him and that he acted out-of-character.
Candace Hall, 55 and her husband Eddie said they have not removed the BLM sign.
‘Right now, black lives are being targeted,’ Candace said. ‘We put the sign up because we matter, too.’
Warren Police Commissioner Bill Dwyer said at a news conference that the man lives with his parents in the neighborhood and confessed to other crimes in the area.
Warren Mayor James Fout said that he will not accept any type of racism in his city.
‘Clearly, they got the bad guy and the bad guy in this case was a racist terrorist,’ Fout said. ‘In this city, we do not tolerate any type of crime, but particularly racist terrorism. Make no mistake about it, this was a racist terrorist.”
Candace said that other neighbors in the area have been a source of comfort and have helped provide healing from this incident.
‘Hate brings no good to anyone,’ she said. ‘We hate no one. We live in a neighborhood that’s really diverse. We love our neighbors. Our neighbors love us. All of our neighbors surrounded us with encouragement and love.’
Frederick pleaded not guilty for each count with his bond set at $200,000. He will be back on trial in October.
Despite admitting the racist abuse to the police, Frederick has denied the charges.
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