- Racist man harasses black family, returns with assault rifle, sparks shootout
- Family member shoots attacker in self-defense, no serious injuries reported
- The incident leaves lasting emotional trauma, underscoring an urgent need to solve hate crimes
They want to kill us.
According to reporting by WALBA Georgia family says what began as a peaceful gathering in Lee County turned into a terrifying incident like something out of the 1950s when a white man allegedly drove by their home yelling racial slurs before returning armed with an AR-15-style rifle and body armor.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred June 7 on Autumn Leaf Drive in Leesburg. Family members told WALB they were outside enjoying a gathering when a vehicle drove by and the driver, later identified as 36-year-old Jeffrey Tyler Kinzer, allegedly began yelling the N-word and other racial slurs at the mostly black group. Witnesses said the family initially tried to ignore the harassment and continued their relationship after Kinzer left.
“He’s talking trash. He started yelling the ‘N-word,'” said Ramell Green, a witness. “He persisted, so we let him go. We just discussed what had happened after.”
However, family members said the situation escalated dramatically when Kinzer returned. Witnesses told WALB he arrived wearing body armor and carrying an AR-15 rifle. According to relatives, Kinzer allegedly opened fire on the gathering, causing life-or-death chaos as people scrambled for cover and safety. Several people, including children, were reportedly present during the incident. Witnesses described the encounter as a racially motivated attack and said they feared someone would be killed.
Authorities said deputies responded to multiple reports of an active shooter and determined the violence stemmed from what they described as a verbal altercation. During the shootout, Kinzer was shot and wounded by a family member. Relatives told WALB that the family member fired in self-defense after Kinzer allegedly started shooting at them. Kinzer survived the gunshot wound and was transported to a hospital for treatment.
“…People started taking positions because they saw he had a gun. And I was in the middle of the street,” Green said. “And I grabbed my gun and started shooting back and moving with him.”
Thank God these people were armed and prepared to defend themselves against the hatred that reigns in America in 2026.
After being cleared by medical personnel, Kinzer was booked into the Lee County Jail. The sheriff’s office charged him with aggravated assault, though investigators indicated additional charges could be forthcoming as the case remains pending. Officials have not announced whether any hate crime charges will be pursued, but hate crime charges should definitely be pursued. Why is this even a thing? The man calls a bunch of blacks ni**ers and shoots them with a rifle. It doesn’t get any clearer that he hated them and wanted them dead.
For the family, the shooting left lasting emotional scars. They told WALB they believe they were targeted because they were black, and said the racist language allegedly used before the shooting makes the motive clear.
“It’s so hurtful. I cried all night,” said Loucindi Broussard, another witness. “I’m outside on the ground for a shootout. I’m under a car with my sister who’s 77 and I’m 62.”
Although no family members were reported seriously injured, relatives say the incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly racial hostility can escalate into potentially deadly violence.
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