CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Federal agents are at the home of a couple accused of burning a cross in the yard of a Charlotte couple's retirement home in South Carolina near Myrtle Beach, according to a report.
An FBI spokesperson told WMBF that agents were at the home of Worden Butler and Alexis Hartnett for a civil rights investigation related to allegations of racial discrimination. Butler and Hartnett are accused of making multiple threats and harassing a Charlotte couple over the past two years by using racial slurs and other hostile language.
The situation escalated over Thanksgiving weekend when Shawn and Monica Williams reported a burning cross in their front yard.
"It's been traumatic for my whole family because they had to witness this," Monica Williams said.
Kevin Wheeler, a spokesperson for the FBI, said Wednesday's investigation is related to the cross burning. Harnett and Barrett were arrested and charged with second-degree harassment following the incident. The NAACP has also launched an investigation into the cross burning.
The FBI issued a statement saying it was working jointly with the U.S. Attorney's Office and local law enforcement agencies to investigate the case. South Carolina is one of two states without a law allowing extra punishment for hate crimes, defined as being motivated by someone's race, religion, gender or other background. Several attempts to enact a hate crime bill have stalled in the South Carolina legislature.
"You just hope that in this country that you serve proudly and honorably, you can live in peace proudly and honorably," Shawn Williams said. "This has got to stop. Hate is something you learn."
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip online at this link.