'This Is America': Lombard Man Threatened To Shoot Muslims: Prosecutor

LOMBARD, IL — A 46-year-old Lombard man has been charged with a hate crime after prosecutors said he verbally abused and threatened to shoot two Muslim men, claiming "This is America," and said the men should leave the country, DuPage County officials announced on Thursday.

Larry York, who has a last known address of Lombard, was denied pre-trial release by a judge on Thursday after police said he became engaged in an altercation with the two men at a local apartment complex earlier this week. York appeared in court on Thursday and has been charged with two counts of a hate crime, the DuPage County State's Attorney said.

Police said one of the victims arrived at the West Point Apartments shortly after 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and was sitting in a car after agreeing to meet a friend there. Police said that York approached the car and asked the man what he was doing there. He then, according to prosecutors, told the man that he did not belong in this country and told him to leave.

Prosecutors said that York then punched the man’s car window and then entered the apartment complex. That’s when York encountered the second victim and began swearing at him as he was getting off an elevator, and threatened to beat him, Dupage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said.

A short time later, York approached one of the men who was seated on a bench outside and lifted one end of the bench, officials said, causing the man to fall to the ground. Police said York then told four friends nearby to come by and shoot the two men and then used offensive language in addressing the men.

According to prosecutors, York said, “(F----) you (F---ing) Muslim (mother------). This is America. Get the (F----)out of here. I’ll shoot you, (mother------). Get out of here.”

Police said that York was arrested at a Lombard bar on Wednesday night.

“Hate crimes have no place in a civilized society,” Berlin said in a news release. “The allegations against Mr. York are extremely disturbing and in DuPage County, we have no tolerance whatsoever for such vitriolic actions, as alleged in this case.”

Lombard Police Chief Tom Wirsing said that the allegations made against York are “absolutely unacceptable” and have no place in the community.

York’s next court appearance is scheduled for November 2.