Jonathan Andrew Felkel: South Carolina Man Gets 9 Years in Federal Prison for Shooting at Black Neighbor in Hate Crime Case

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina man who fired a gun at his Black neighbor while shouting a racial threat has received a nine-year prison sentence.

Jonathan Andrew Felkel, 34, pleaded guilty earlier to violating the housing rights of Jarvis McKenzie under the federal Fair Housing Act. U.S. 

In July 2026, District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis handed down the prison term along with three years of supervised probation, making clear the punishment was meant not only to hold Felkel accountable but to send a wider message.

“It’s almost unheard of for a federal case to move this quickly,” U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling said after the hearing, standing alongside McKenzie and other officials.

Jonathan Andrew Felkel in court


The crime reportedly took place on July 17, 2025, just weeks after Richland County passed its own hate crime law — the very law under which Felkel was initially charged.

Infact, his case marked the first time anyone had been prosecuted under the local law, as per WAFB.

According to police reports, surveillance video captured Felkel driving into the gated community where both men lived.

He then fired a weapon and started yelling at McKenzie, saying, “You better keep running, boy!” as McKenzie stood at the gate.

This tragic incident led to his arrest, and investigators later said Felkel admitted his actions were driven by race. 

He told law enforcement he believed Black people were committing crimes in the neighborhood and that he was patrolling the area hoping to scare Black individuals away.

So because McKenzie was Black, he concluded that he was a criminal, and wanted to scare him away. 

According to prosecutors, Felkel said he was on the lookout for Black criminals in his community, and he wanted McKenzie to “leave” and “not be around this area.”

The hate crime charge was brought federally under a statute that criminalizes interfering with someone’s housing rights because of race. 

However, after Felkel took a plea deal, a related firearms charge was dismissed as part of the plea agreement. 


Jonathan Andrew Felkel’s mugshot 


McKenzie spoke after the sentencing, describing the lasting damage to his sense of safety and to his family. 

“Thinking back to that moment, a lot of stuff goes through my mind, such as fear for my family,” he said. 

“Being that it happened in my neighborhood, that’s supposed to be a safe place for my family to call home, and it’s not anymore. He took that away from us,” he said.

He added that the trauma continues to affect his young daughters. “It’s always going to play a factor in my family’s mind, my girls being there; it’s always going to be in their minds because they’re young, but I have to do what I have to do to take care of them.”

McKenzie’s attorney, Tyler Bailey, underscored the racism at the heart of the attack. 

“He shot at Jarvis for no other reason outside of him wearing a white T-shirt and being a Black man,” Bailey said. 

“I think that has no place in our community and I think all sentences should reflect stiff penalties to try to deter this.” 

Bailey also pointed out that South Carolina still lacks a state-level hate crime law, though he praised federal authorities for stepping in quickly. He noted plans to pursue justice further through a civil lawsuit.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division called the attack “disturbing” and “racially motivated,” adding that hate crimes “undermine the fabric of our communities.” 

FBI Special Agent in Charge Kevin Moore said the agency hoped the victim and community “can begin to heal, knowing that we remain fully committed to their safety.”

During the legal proceedings, Felkel’s attorney claimed that mental health and substance abuse struggles were at play during the offense but Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott directly challenged those assertions.

 “A drug problem doesn’t impact your heart; that’s where the hate is,” Lott said. 

He expressed doubt that South Carolina would ever pass a state hate crime statute, but stressed that local and federal partnerships would still deliver consequences. 

“We’re still gonna lock you up and prosecute you if you commit a crime like that,” Lott said. “Today, justice was served.”

Before learning his sentence, Felkel apologized to McKenzie in court, saying he wished he could take back what he did. 

As part of his probation conditions, Felkel must complete a mental health program and contribute to the cost of any substance abuse services he receives, as per official reports.

He will receive credit for time already spent in federal custody. In addition to the federal resolution, Felkel still faces state charges, including a count of hate intimidation.

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