Chattanooga man accused of racially motivated crime speaks to News 12.

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee(WDEF) – A Chattanooga man accused of committing a crime deemed by police to be racially motivated spoke to News 12 about what led to the events that got him arrested and why he regrets his actions.

Hours after Daniel Weaver, 37, bonded out of jail, News 12 caught up with him in front of his house in the 5000 block of Carolyn Lane.

According to Weaver, he was so intoxicated when he came home that he actually went past his house and may have accidentally startled a man who was sitting a parked car.

"This gentleman pulled up behind me in front of my house and pulled a gun on me. He asked me if I wanted any beef with him and I said no. I just missed my house, and I’m intoxicated," Weaver said.

Instead of letting it go, Weaver admits walking into his house then deciding to take matters in his own hands because he felt threatened and disrespected.

"I told my fiance she needs to leave because there might be something going down," Weaver said.

Something did go down. Weaver reportedly walked across the street to three homes where he went on a verbal tirade laced with what police call racial obscenities and threats.

"I was highly enraged and threatened. As this was going on, I proceeded to say a couple of things which I regret," Weaver said.

According to the arrest affidavit, witnesses saw Weaver scream, "I’ll kill you n—ers and I’ll shoot you n—ers." Then he went back to his house and grabbed a gasoline can, walked back across the street and started dousing several vehicles with gasoline.

"I did put some gasoline around some vehicles and such but nothing was caught on fire," Weaver said.

Although nothing caught on fire, witnesses told police Weaver began sparking a lighter. Neighbors who had just learned of what happened say the incident with the gasoline and lighter could have triggered an explosion.

"The thought of a car exploding and maybe going to someone’s house or putting lives in danger was very scary. That’s what I thought when I heard about it," said Donna Waller who lives on the block.

Weaver now faces three counts of civil rights intimidation, three counts of vandalism and three counts of setting fire to personal property. He told News 12 he’s certain the setting fire to personal property charges will be dropped since none of the vehicles actually caught on fire.

He also told New 12 he regretted his actions and wished he handled the situation in a better way. Weaver is asking his neighbor to forgive him and says despite what was said, he is not a racist.

I wasn’t trying to be racist to anyone because I’m not that but I let my anger and emotions get the best of me," Weaver said.

According to neighbors, there has been no racial tensions on the 5000 block of Carolyn Lane.

Weaver’s next court date is January 12.

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CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) – A Chattanooga man with a violent criminal past is now facing multiple counts of criminal charges that police have deemed racially motivated.

Daniel Weaver, 37, of Chattanooga was arrested on Monday and charged with three counts of civil rights intimidation, three counts of setting fires to personal property and three counts of vandalism.

According to an arrest affidavit obtained by News 12, the charges against Weaver stem from a Sunday night incident in the 5000 block of Carolyn Lane. Chattanooga police were called to that block in reference to a disorder involving Weaver.

When an officer arrived on scene, he was told that Weaver was screaming racial obscenities before dousing several vehicles in gasoline. The owners of those vehicles told police that Weaver had been screaming, “I’ll kill you n—ers” and “Come down to my house I’ll shoot all you n—ers!”

According to the alleged victims, after weaver shouted out racial threats, he returned to his home where he reportedly grabbed a gasoline can.

Weaver was reportedly identified by several other witnesses who told police he was sparking a lighter over the vehicles that were doused with gasoline.

When police took Weaver into custody, he reportedly told officers that earlier in the day; he was approached by a driver in a Mercedes who pulled a gun on him after he approached the driver’s vehicle. He then told police the vehicle sped away and believed the Mercedes had come from a house across the street from where he lived.

After further interrogation at Chattanooga Police headquarters, Weaver reportedly confessed to dousing three vehicles with gasoline before sparking a lighter, but he also told police he never intended on setting fires.

According to authorities, the crime was believed to be racially motivated based on racial slurs allegedly yelled by Weaver.

His bond was $41,000 and his arraignment in court is set for January 12.

It’s unclear if Weaver has an attorney.

Weaver is no stranger to trouble involving violence. Hamilton County court records show he was convicted of domestic assault back in 2010.