LANCASTER, S.C. (AP) - Authorities say they have charged three men with conspiring to rob the owner of a South Carolina convenience store, but they haven’t arrested anyone for killing him.
Arrest warrants released Wednesday say the men discussed “smashing an Indian” as they plotted to rob 43-year-old Harnish Patel on March 2.
Deputies say Patel was found shot to death later that night in an attempted armed robbery about 3 miles (5 kilometers) away, just outside his Lancaster home.
Lancaster County sheriff’s spokesman Doug Barfield says investigators still don’t have evidence that Patel was targeted specifically for his race.
Deputies say 23-year-old Jaquinton Blair, 22-year-old Lajames Ross and 42-year-old Richard Stewart are all charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery. It’s not known if they have lawyers.
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