Multi-state shooting spree was racially motived, suspect was targeting White men: report

Justin Tyran Roberts, the accused shooter, told police that White men had picked on him and wronged him for all his life, Columbus, Ga. Police Det. Brandon Lockhart testified during a preliminary hearing on Monday, according to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer."Basically, he explained throughout his life, specifically white males had taken from him, and also what he described as military-looking white males had taken from him," Lockhart reportedly testified.ATLANTA-AREA SUPERMARKET CASHIER SHOT TO DEATH AFTER ARGUMENT WITH CUSTOMER OVER MASKLockhart later testified that Roberts said, "I had to have him," about one of the shooting victims.Police have accused Roberts of shooting five people in three separate assaults in Columbus, Georgia and Phenix City, Alabama. A fifth person was shot Saturday afternoon.Roberts was ultimately charged with aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, theft by receiving stolen property, referring to the gun, police said.ALABAMA WORKPLACE SHOOTING LEAVES 2 DEAD, 2 INJURED; SUSPECT FOUND DEAD FROM SELF-INFLICTED GUNSHOT: REPORTSPhenix City and Columbus sit on opposite sides on the Alabama-Georgia border.The 39-year-old appeared in court Monday in Columbus for a preliminary hearing in one of those incidents where a man was shot in the back as he was getting into his vehicle.Roberts also claimed that such men were "shooting at him in a wooded area with a slingshot," and the wounds had infected his skin, Lockhart testified.