UTAH
A federal grand jury this week charged Alan D. Covington with attacking three men with a metal pole because he believed the men were Mexican, according to officials.
The indictment alleges that on Nov. 27, 2018, Alan D. Covington entered the premises of a tire store, shouted that he wanted to “kill Mexicans,” and then struck L.G.L in the head with a metal pole.
If convicted, Covington is facing up to life in prison.
The indictment alleges that the attack against L.G.L. included an attempt to kill.
According to the indictment, Covington also struck J.L. with a metal pole. Both men suffered bodily injury. The indictment further alleges that Covington swung the metal pole at A.L. in an attempt to injure A.L.
Covington is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The alleged incident renewed calls for Utah to strengthen its state hate-crimes law, which currently doesn’t name protected groups, according to ABC News.
“This attack sowed fear into our community,” Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski said in a statement Wednesday, applauding the indictment. “It is time Utah adopt comprehensive hate crime legislation to give law enforcement and investigators the tools they need to prosecute these types of crime.”