SENECA, S.C. -- Six men have been charged in a mob beating that the sheriff says was racially motivated.
In a release, Seneca Police Chief John Covington said a North Carolina man was beaten at an Applebee’s in Seneca early March 17.
Teryn L Robinson, 18; Tray Devon Holland, 19; Justin Dimon Alexander, 20; Derick Lee Williams, 22; Kino Martinez Jones, 25; and Montrez Obrian Jones, 22; are charged with assault and battery by a mob.
All the suspects are from the Seneca area and were taken into custody early Wednesday by Seneca police officers, State Law Enforcement Division agents and Oconee County sheriff’s deputies
Covington said since the investigation showed that racial factors contributed to the incident, the case has been forwarded to the FBI to see if it should be pursued further as a hate crime under federal law.
He said the investigation is continuing, and the case will proceed with state-level charges.
