Missouri authorities have formally charged Mark Elliot Lewis, a 47-year-old black man, with a hate crime following an alleged incident at a Walgreens in Columbia where he threatened white individuals.
Lewis faces charges of harassment motivated by discrimination, as reported by ABC 17. He is currently detained at the Boone County Jail on a bond set at $75,000.
According to court documents, Lewis engaged in harassing behavior towards a pharmacy technician at the Columbia Walgreens, creating a disturbance while she was assisting another customer. Allegedly, Lewis made threatening remarks during the altercation, stating, "Im gonna start killing white people."
The technician expressed to law enforcement her apprehension that Lewis might be in possession of a firearm. She also conveyed her fear that Lewis could potentially return to the store shortly to cause harm to other patrons, although it remains uncertain if Lewis explicitly made such threats.
Additionally, police reports indicate that Lewis is sought on various active warrants in the Kansas City metropolitan region, including one related to assault, according to KJLU radio.
The situation underscores the gravity of the charges against Lewis and the concerns raised by the pharmacy technician regarding his behavior and potential threats towards customers.
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