"The Hateful Eight" star Samuel L. Jackson was in Hawaii when he learned of the horrific shooting spree in San Bernardino, Calif., and at first hoped the culprit would turn out to be "another, you know, crazy white dude," he told the Hollywood Reporter.

ajc.com

Credit: Jennifer Brett

icon to expand image

Credit: Jennifer Brett

Not that he wants more insane white people to commit mass shootings. Instead, he feared Islamophobic reprisals should the shooters turn out to be Muslim, he said.

Jackson, a Morehouse man who filmed "Cell" with John Cusack and "Barely Lethal" with Hailee Steinfeld and Jessica Alba in Atlanta in recent years, said said he "empathizes with innocent Muslim-Americans who have fallen under the veil of suspicion because a few other people who share their religion have committed atrocities against their countrymen."

Read the entire piece here.

About the Author

Featured

Helen Gilbert places flowers on her brother Eurie Martin’s grave at Camp Spring Baptist Church in Sandersville. Her brother died eight years ago. Three former Washington County deputies are accused of causing his death and are set to stand trial Monday. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez