Maryland White Supremacist Sentenced To 25 Years In Prison For Shooting Black Man In Racially-Motivated Hate Crime

A white supremacist has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for shooting a Black man in a racially-motivated hate crime.

On Wednesday, a Maryland judge sentenced white supremacist Brandon Higgs to 25 years in prison in connection to the 2018 shooting and wounding of a Elvis Smith, Huffington Post reports. The incident happened on Dec. 20, 2018, when 60-year-old Smith and 48-year-old Robert Peete were laying concrete on a driveway outside a house in  Reisterstown, the outlet reports.

Higgs’ dog, who lived with Higgs nearby, got loose and ran through the wet concrete. Higgs, Smith, and Peete got into a heated argument, but eventually, Higgs went home. Just moments later, Higgs came back with a loaded gun and started referring to Smith as racial slurs and told the man he was unwelcome in the United States. “This is my hood,” Higgs said, and he then yelled out, “Black motherfuckers, go back to Africa!”

According to the Huffington Post, the altercation quickly turned physical with the men shoving one another. Smith ended up hitting Higgs with a small rake used for smoothing out concrete.  That’s when Higgs pulled out his gun, and Higgs and Smith began fighting over the weapon. Peete says Higgs pointed the gun directly at his face, but he was able to get out the way. The gun ended up firing off during the tussle, hitting Smith’s legs, and destroying his tibia. Peete and Smith were eventually able to get the gun away from Higgs and restrain him until the police showed up to the scene.

Despite Higgs being the person who brought the gun to the scene, Higgs pleaded not guilty to several charges. It was later found that Higgs was a white supremacist who was a member of private neo-Nazi chat groups and was a part of a group for people who were looking to attend a 2017 “Unite the Right” white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Higgs, 26, was found guilty in January of first-degree assault, attempted voluntary manslaughter, hate crimes, and related firearms charges, all of which were connected to the 2018 shooting.

Higgs shared many of his racist and hateful feelings in the group chats. In one, Higgs wrote, “I decided I’m going to create my own group called Baltimore Animal Control and buy those dog patrol poles with the snare at the end and wrangle niggers with it.” In another, he wrote, “Also want to leave bear traps in Baltimore city with buckets of KFC chicken.” Higgs also referred to white supremacist Dylann Roof, as “St. Roof” on one of the message boards.

And since Higgs was found guilty, he’s added another round of charges to his record, including multiple misdemeanors he allegedly committed while incarcerated, including one charge of possession of narcotics with the intent to distribute. As for Smith, he was treated for his injuries; and now he says he is looking forward to a long vacation.