He probably called them the n-word. That’s what usually sets them off.
/sarc
Had a case here about 10 yrs ago where 3 black “youths” beat a terminally ill White woman into a coma and she later died in the hospital. Their defense was that her 3 yr old son had said “the n word” enraging them beyond reason.
The DA prosecuted on some minor charges, 2 got about 6 mos and the main culprit did less than 5 yrs.
DA’s reasoning was “well, she was dying anyhow”.