A Denham Springs man with ties to the military was arrested after authorities said he committed a hate crime against a convenience store whose owners he believed were Muslim, the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office said.

Chad Horsley, 27, reportedly told investigators he blamed Muslims for "killing his fellow service members overseas."

“He was also upset that Muslims, in his mind, were having an easier time prospering than he was despite his time in the service,” Sheriff Jason Ard said in a news release.

Horsley is accused of several offenses against the convenience store on La. 1019.

Ard said Horsley first went to the store on Feb. 27 and claimed he was a police officer. Horsley reportedly said he suspected drug activity and planned to return and conduct a search.

A witness told deputies that Horsley returned Saturday, drove his truck into the store and took the ATM. When the witness tried to stop him, Horsley pulled out a gun and left the scene, Ard said.

Horsley told investigators he was an East Baton Rouge Sheriff's deputy. Ard said investigators learned Horsley was a former reserve deputy.

Horsley's father, Samuel Horsley Jr., told The Advocate that his son served as an East Baton Rouge Sheriff's deputy for several years beginning when he was 19. That ended, he said, when his son joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in 2014.

 

Read more:  KLFY.com