Teen arrested in hate crime vandalism at Chula Vista elementary school

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A teen has been arrested in connection to a series of vandalisms at a South Bay elementary school that police are investigating as hate crimes, authorities said.

The Chula Vista Police Department announced last week a 15-year-old is facing charges after police and FBI were able to connect him to at least three separate incidents of graffiti depicting racial slurs and other hate-based symbols found on the outside of Enrique Camarena Elementary School in Chula Vista.

The teen was taken into custody by Chula Vista Police officers at a local high school football game on Friday, Aug. 23 after police say evidence led authorities to identify him as one of the suspects involved.

School staff and parents spent hours cleaning thousands of dollars in damage that showed up over the week, starting on Sunday, Aug. 18. Spray painted on the walls, doors and on a mural on the outside of the school were racial slurs directed towards multiple races, swastikas and other “concerning” words and symbols, police said.

The staff and parents volunteers worked to clear the graffiti before students arrived for school Monday morning.

Chula Vista elementary school vandalized with racial slurs, swastikas

But as volunteers were cleaning the graffiti, new images depicting similar hateful messages were found on the front of the school on Monday. Two days later, on Wednesday, more graffiti was found on the back side of the school.

The Chula Vista Police Department and School Resource Officers, along with Federal authorities and the Anti-Defamation League, are investigating the incidents.

School Resource Officers and investigators collected evidence and spoke to several community members, students and staff, and say they were able to identify at least one suspect involved in the vandalism. However, the investigation is still ongoing and police emphasized they will continue to probe the series of vandalisms.

The teen, who has not been identified by authorities, was arrested without incident while investigators were serving a search warrant at his Chula Vista home. Chula Vista Police says he is facing felony hate crime and felony vandalism charges.

“I want the community to know, as a parent myself, I acknowledged their fears and concerns from the onset. While we couldn’t discuss our specific strategies publicly, my department made finding the person responsible for causing this fear its top priority. These hateful acts are unacceptable, and we will not tolerate behavior like this in our community. I’m thankful to the FBI and members of our local school staff and community for coming together to help us put an end to this quickly,” said Chief Roxana Kennedy.

Police are asking anyone with more information to contact San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or they can submit tips anonymously online or through the P3tips mobile app.

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