A man from Kansas City, Missouri, Thursday pled guilty to committing a hate crime. According to his plea agreement, Malachi Robinson shot a teenager eight times because of the teen’s sexual orientation.

Robinson met the teen, identified as M.S., at the Kansas City public library where the two had a brief interaction. During the interaction, M.S. asked Robinson about his sexual orientation, to which Robinson replied “I am not gay.” The two left the library and Robinson suggested they go into a wooded area. As M.S. turned to leave the woods, Robinson fired eight shots and caused significant injuries to M.S. In the days following the shooting, Robinson told others the reason he shot the teen was because of M.S.’s sexual orientation.

Robinson was indicted on one charge of hate crime involving an attempt to kill and one charge of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Robinson admitted that he shot M.S. and violated the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in federal court.

US Attorney Teresa Moore of the Western District of Missouri commented:

Violence against others, motivated by hatred of their sexual orientation, is unacceptable. Such callous disregard for the life of a teenage victim, gravely wounded in a failed murder attempt, must be challenged by a commitment to protect the civil rights of all our citizens. When those rights are threatened, the Justice Department will act to hold the violators accountable.

Robinson faces possible life in prison without parole. Robinson’s sentencing hearing will be set after the US Probation Office finishes their pre-sentence investigation.