Oregon couple charged with hate crime after allegedly running over black teen
The couple in Oregon who are accused of killing a black teenager have been charged with a hate crime. Officials say that their actions were racially motivated.
On August 10, Russell Courtier, 38, allegedly chased down 19-year-old Larnell Bruce with his Jeep after an alleged dispute. Courtier ran over Bruce with Colleen Hunt, 35, as a passenger in the vehicle, according to KGW. Both were arrested for murder and denied bail.
On Monday, a grand jury indicted Courtier and Hunt for intimidation in the first degree, in addition to the list of charges they face for the murdering the teen.
See photos of Larnell Bruce below:
They have both pleaded not guilty to the murder and intimidation charges and authorities say the investigation is ongoing.
"Intimidation means the defendants are accused of acting based on their perception of the victim's race, color, religion or disability," the Associated Press notes.
According to Time, Courtier is believed to be a member of the European Kindred, a white supremacist group.
A news release from the Gresham Police Department says they investigated Courtier's affiliation and established his motive with the help of "additional witnesses, including subject matter experts on white supremacy gangs."
