- Racist man harasses black family, returns with assault rifle and sparks exchange of gunfire
- A family member shoots the attacker in self-defense, no serious injuries are reported
- The incident leaves lasting emotional trauma and underlines the urgent need to address hate crimes
they want to kill us.
According to reports from WALBA Georgia family says what started as a peaceful gathering in Lee County turned into a terrifying incident like something from the 1950s when a white man allegedly walked by their home yelling racial slurs before returning armed with an AR-15-style rifle and a bulletproof vest.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred on 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 racist comments at the predominantly black group. Witnesses said the family initially tried to ignore the harassment and continued their camaraderie after Kinzer left.
“He’s talking trash. He started yelling the ‘N-word,'” said Ramell Green, a witness. “He moved on, so we let him go. We just discussed what happened next.”
However, relatives said the situation worsened dramatically when Kinzer returned. Witnesses told WALB he arrived wearing a bulletproof vest and an AR-15 style rifle. According to his relatives, Kinzer allegedly opened fire on the gathering, causing life-or-death chaos as people sought shelter 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 officers responded to multiple reports of an active shooting and determined the violence stemmed from what they described as a verbal altercation. During the exchange of gunfire, Kinzer was shot and wounded by a family member. Family members told WALB that the family member fired in self-defense after Kinzer allegedly began shooting at them. Kinzer survived the gunshot wound and was taken 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 returning fire and moving with it.”
Thank God these people were armed and prepared to defend themselves against the hate that infests America in 2026.
After being released by medical personnel, Kinzer was booked into the Lee County Jail. The sheriff’s office charged him with aggravated assault, although investigators indicated additional charges could be filed while the case remains under review. Officials have not announced whether hate crime-related charges will be filed, but hate crime charges absolutely need to be filed. Why is this even in doubt? The man calls a group of black people children and shoots them with a rifle. It is no 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 it clear why.
“It’s so painful. I cried all night,” said Loucindi Broussard, another witness. “I’m lying on the ground during a shooting. I’m under a car with my sister, who is 77 years old, and I’m 62.”
While no family members were reported to be seriously injured, family members say the incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly racist hostility can escalate into life-threatening violence.
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