The man accused of shooting three Asian-American women in a Dallas hair salon in May was charged Tuesday with multiple charges, including hate crimes and aggravated assault. was indicted on the charges of announced by the district attorney.
Jeremy Smith, 37, said he was charged with seven aggravated assault charges, each of which strengthened his crime of hate and sentenced him to five years in prison. He was arrested by Dallas police on May 16 and remains in the county jail on $700,000 bail.
After Smith entered his Koreatown facility on May 11, he fired his 13 rounds from his .22 caliber rifle, killing saloon owners, employees, It is said that he injured three of his female guests and endangered his four others. Three women, all Korean, suffered non-fatal injuries and were taken to a local hospital, according to police. 15}
This May 12, 2022 file photo shows the interior of the Hair World Salon Dallas.
Jamie Stengel/AP, Files
Smith The suspect targeted the victim because of "his prejudice or prejudice against Asian Americans," according to a statement released by the suspect. He told police detectives that he had been paranoid about Asian-Americans since he was previously involved in a car accident with an Asian man.
Whenever Smith was around Asian Americans, he began to have delusions that "an Asian mob was following him or trying to harm him," He was fired for "verbally attacking" his Asian boss, his girlfriend said in a police affidavit.
This May 12, 2022 file photo shows Hair World in Dallas.
Jamie Stengl/AP, Files
According to an affidavit, she told police Smith experienced a panic attack due to delusions and was admitted to several mental health facilities.
Texas Federal Prosecutor, The FBI and the US Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division have partnered for a federal hate crime investigation against Smith.
Violence against Asians has increased sharply in the country in recent years. Many attacks have been caught in viral videos, fueling fear and anger among Asian Americans.
Last year, six women of Asian descent were shot dead inAtlanta and nearby massage parlors. Earlier this month, a West Texas man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for attacking an Asian family outside a department store in Midland, Texas, in 2020. The man assumed they were Chinese and therefore he was responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.According to the FBI's analysis of the rise in hate crimes.
Jeremy Smith is in an undated reservation photo in this photo courtesy of the Dallas County Sheriff's Office.
Dallas County Sheriff's Office via AP
Last May, President Joe Biden signed into law the COVID-19 Hate Crime Act. It designates Justice Department officials dedicated to investigating cases and provides subsidies to police so they can establish hotlines for reporting hate crimes.
However,The law also tightens the crackdown, some say, apparently ineffective in preventing discrimination and crimes, especially against black Americans.