He need anger management classes/jail time. For whatever reason that got the situation to the level that he had to fire a gun is scary enough. You, my self or family members, my child your child could have taken that bullet. For a very foolish reason. I don't think color has nothing to do with this. If it had been a black couple or white couple a gun shouldn't had been used into this.

Hate crime charges are a joke. Indicting people on their beliefs or what they think is ridiculous. Assault is already a crime. What next? Indicting people that don't think like the religious right, or the the lunatic left?

Back when Johnson was still in Texas, they asked him what he thought about a law making lynching illegal. He said something to the effect "I thought murder was already illegal?".

The point is, "hate crime" laws, "assault on a government official" laws, etc... are layered on laws that already exist. The *ONLY* reason for their existence is because legislators are pandering to voting blocks so they can look busy and get re-elected.

If I was a juror, I would never convict anyone on those or similar laws.

irishale's comments are circumloquacious, and make no sense at all. If I understand you correctly, you're saying it's a hate crime, but shouldn't be punished as a hate crime.

To clarify - http://www.usdoj.gov/crs/pubs/htecrm.htm

A distinguishing characteristic of a hate crime charge is that it's outcome causes fear, tension and unrest in the community.

It looks like the incident in Greenville was an isolated incident by some knucklehead with a chip on his shoulder.

I've made a mental note to stay out of Greenville though.

Bravo to District Attorney Clark Everett... this type of crime is by nature a 'hate crime'... and there's no need to charge it as such. To do so makes all other instances like this when race is not involved seem less serious or important.