Mark Waters, a 66-year-old California man, has been charged with felony assault after he shot a Black Airbnb guest as he walked to a grocery store in what prosecutors called an "unprovoked attack." The authorities are investigating whether a hate crime was committed.
BuzzFeed News reports:
A California man is facing felony charges for allegedly shooting a 21-year-old unarmed Black man who was walking to the grocery store from an Airbnb rental in what officials are describing as an "unprovoked attack."
The victim was crossing the street in the 1200 block of Somerset Drive around 11:08 p.m. on Oct. 2 when he saw the suspect, later identified as 66-year-old Mark Waters, exit a home and "quickly approach him" while holding a handgun, according to San Jose police and the Santa Clara County district attorney's office. The victim tried to run away, but as his back was turned, Waters fired his weapon, striking the young man in the leg, prosecutors said.
Officers who responded to the shooting provided medical aid to the victim, who was then transported to a local hospital with a non-life-threatening injury, a San Jose police spokesperson told BuzzFeed News.
The police confiscated eight firearms registered to Waters while searching his home, along with ammunition and other items.
The outlet reports that although Waters was arrested at the scene, he was no longer in custody.
In response to the shooting, the NRA released a short statement: We need more guns on the streets.
