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Lexington, Kentucky police have identified a man captured on video putting his hands around the neck of a Black Walmart employee and pretending to make a noose. Lexington police department officials say the incident took place on Jan. 29 when the woman was working as a third-party vendor inside the store when a white man approached her table after she asked him a question.

“According to the victim, the man-made motions with his hands, which he said was for making a noose,” the department said in a news release according to WDRB. “The man then lunged forward and briefly ut both his hands around the victim’s neck.”

Police have released the store’s surveillance video to the public in the hopes of finding the suspect, who has been identified but his name hasn’t been released. Police said the investigation remains open. Lexington residents were left shocked and appalled over the incident.

“See why I carry my protection at all times!” a Facebook user commented. “You just never know when you’re going to run into some crazies and it’s only going to get worse with the man in the WH who condones this kind of racism!”

“You don’t put your hands on anyone!!!” someone else commented. Authorities said they are looking into the incident as a possible hate crime. Anyone with information about the incident have been asked to contact Lexington police at 859-258-3600.

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