Mississippi Store Owner Doesn't Regret Yelling Racial Slur at Black Customers

The owner of a furniture store in Southaven, Mississippi, admitted to a news station that he used a racial slur against a group of black clients in a confrontation that left him with a black eye.

A video obtained by local news station WREG shows Hometown Furniture's owner, Terry Pace, yelling racial slurs at a group of black customers outside of his store on Saturday.

James Mayes, who witnessed the confrontation, said that "I couldn't believe it. You hear people on TV saying these things, but to hear it in person just so aggressively was really off-putting.”

Since the store was closed on Monday, when WREG visited trying to find answers, they went all the way to Pace’s home. There, the man defended his actions and didn’t show an ounce of regret.

Instead, he admitted on camera that he used the n-word and said he felt what he did was appropriate considering the circumstances. Pace said he was provoked, attacked and left with a black eye. And added:

"I don't care what they say. I did what I felt like was right. You weren't there. You didn't hear it. You didn't hear all the stuff I heard. I called the n-word when it was over with. When it was all over with, and they kept mouthing off to me. Yes, ma'am, I used the n-word.”

Police were called to the store but to no reports were filled.

This is not the first time Pace has made racist comments.

Business owner Marvin Clark, who has a store at the same plaza where Pace’s furniture business is located, described an encounter he had with the man:

“He was like, 'No. I don't finance, because the only people that want to get furniture financed is the colored. And they don't pay their bills.' Yes. This is what he told me, and I let that go."

Radhya Spencer, who is the property manager at the square where Hometown Furniture is located, says they have received multiple complaints from customers about Pace’s behavior, and he has only been at the square for two months.

The other business owners hope this incident doesn’t push clients away.

“We need to come out here and support the businesses. We need to come out here and support Southaven and uplift it. We don't plan on having him stay,” Spencer explained.

She also revealed that the lease for the furniture store is up next month, and it won’t be renewed.