A Kansas man has been sentenced to six years and eight months in federal prison for a series of racially motivated threats and violent intimidation against Black people, including two children. Austin Schoemann, 31, pleaded guilty to multiple charges stemming from incidents where he brandished a gun, hurled racial slurs, and threatened to kill Black individuals in his community.
In one disturbing episode in July 2022, Schoemann confronted two Black children at a QuikTrip gas station in Wichita. He pulled a gun on them while shouting racist insults. A Black woman who stepped in to protect the children quickly became Schoemann’s next target as he turned the weapon on her. Though no one was physically harmed, the encounter left the victims shaken, and it underscored a pattern of hate-fueled actions that had unfolded over several months.
According to court documents, Schoemann’s threats extended far beyond the gas station. Between January and August of 2022, he repeatedly harassed a white woman in his neighborhood, threatening to harm or kill any Black person who entered her home. Schoemann would stand outside the woman’s residence, yelling racial slurs whenever he believed she had invited Black guests or intended to do so. He also sent chilling videos and messages to her family members, stating that he would kill any Black person he encountered.
Federal prosecutors brought Schoemann to justice, citing his actions as part of an ongoing campaign of racial terror. The charges include two counts of interference with federally protected activities, two counts of interstate threats, and one count of interference with housing rights. Schoemann pleaded guilty in July, acknowledging the breadth of his threats and violent intimidation.
“Racially motivated threats of violence have no place in our society,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Clarke emphasized the gravity of Schoemann’s actions, particularly his targeting of Black children and a woman who simply sought to protect them. “This case should make clear that the Justice Department will not rest in bringing the perpetrators of racially motivated hate crimes to justice,” she added.
The sentencing marks a significant moment in addressing hate crimes in Kansas, sending a message that racial intimidation and threats will not be tolerated under federal law.
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