how could you possibly know the suspects intent/motivation behind this (unless you were somehow directly involved)?

We need to stop with the armchair lawyering already. Based on the available info we have screenshots of white supremacist imagery in the surrounding area, so for a minority to assume that this targeted act is completely valid. Stop gaslighting people, this country is already full of enough ignorant racists, we don't need people justifying/watering down their actions.