CROSSBOW SHOOTING CHARGES UPGRADED

Fort Walton Beach Police say the man arrested for shooting another man with a crossbow last Saturday did so because of racial prejudice. Matthew Peters – a white man – now faces a charge of attempted first degree premeditated murder with a weapon for trying to kill Benny Davis, who is black. The State Attorney’s Office said his actions qualify as a hate crime. Davis was riding his bike when Peters pulled up beside him and shot him from his vehicle. Davis was injured, but survived.