North Carolina gun rampage: Lakim Faust accused of targeting white people during mass shooting

Lakim Faust was carrying over 100 rounds of ammunition when he started firing at people

Lakim Faust (Police handout)

A young man who went on a gun rampage near a North Carolina shopping centre has been accused or specifically targeting white people during his attack.

Lakim Faust was carrying over 100 rounds of ammunition when he started shooting at people outside a lawyers’ office near a Wal-Mart store in Greenville in June 21 this year.

The 23-year-old’s bullets hit four people, with three said to have suffered permanent and debilitating injuries, while the fourth suffered only minor wounds.

Earlier this week authorities indicted Faust on 14 charges, including four counts of attempted first-degree murder, and suggested he picked out his victims based on their race.

The indictment documents didn’t specify why Faust wanted to shoot white people, and police have not talked about why he picked out his targets. Earlier reports had indicated that Faust had been shooting 'indiscriminately.'

Police said Faust’s first victim was an insurance adjustor in the law firm’s car park. He then crossed a five-lane highway and shot three more people in Wal Mart’s parking lot, investigators said.

Police were after to apprehend Faust after shooting him. He recovered and is being held in custody while the trial takes place.

Police seized computers and documents from Faust’s home that they claim showed he had a plan for the attack and wanted to shoot a large number of people, investigators said.