crimeneutral
A Confusing Case in North Carolina: What Really Happened?
Zebulon, North Carolina, USAMonday, December 22, 2025
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Austin Thomas Herber, 27, is accused of hate crimes and kidnapping, but details remain unclear.
Incident Overview
- Accused: Austin Thomas Herber
- Charges: Assault, pointing a gun, kidnapping, threats, and ethnic intimidation
- Location: North Carolina
The Incident
- A black car allegedly hit Herber's white truck and attempted to drive away.
- Herber is accused of assaulting the men in the other vehicle and pointing a gun at them.
- The most severe charges involve ethnic intimidation, suggesting racial or national targeting.
Witness Accounts
Emma Larson
- Witness in Herber's truck
- Claims she woke up to see blood everywhere after the crash.
- Says the men in the other car tried to escape.
Jessica Thompson (Bar Owner)
- Did not see a gun or Herber hitting anyone.
- Saw Herber telling the men not to leave the scene.
Police Response
- Zebulon Police Department has not clarified how they determined hate crime charges.
- Many questions remain unanswered.
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