Man in viral video charged with hate crimes and terrorism

TALLULAH, La. (VDN) — A Louisiana man was arrested after being shown in a now viral video firing a weapon at a Tallulah resident.

According to a report in the Madison Journal, Robert Ray Fortenberry, 56, of Tallulah, was involved in a hit-and-run accident involving a neighbor in the 600 block of LaSalle. Fortenberry, who lives in the 1200 block of LaSalle, allegedly left the scene of the accident but returned shortly thereafter in a different vehicle.

In the video, Fortenberry is shown pulling up to the residence in the 600 block of LaSalle Street. He exits the vehicle and walks up onto the property while having a verbal exchange with the resident. The resident is advising Fortenberry to get off his property while filming the interaction. The video then shows Fortenberry walk back to his vehicle and retrieve a weapon. He made further threats to the resident and then fired his gun once, causing the resident holding the camera to duck down behind a vehicle in his driveway. When the resident looks up, the suspect is walking back to his car.

The resident can then be heard saying repeatedly, “He’s going to jail.”

Fortenberry was later arrested at his residence, where the weapon was recovered. According to Madison Parish public information officer Brandon Wiltcher, Fortenberry is being held in the Madison Parish Jail.

Fortenberry will be charged with 8 counts of aggravated assault, 8 counts of illegal use of a firearm, 8 counts of a hate crime, and terrorism. His bond has been set at $215,000.

A call was made to the Tallulah Police Department to speak with Chief McCoy about the incident. He was not available.