Crime & Safety

Two Arrested in School Vandalism Case

Two Chaparral students, one 15 and the other 17 years old , were accused of spray painting racist and anti-gay messages at their high school in March.

 

Two Chaparral students were arrested on suspicion of spray painting hate messages at their school.

A 15-year-old and a 17-year-old student will face charges of felony vandalism, hate crimes and conspiracy, according to sheriff's Sgt. Geoffrey Green.

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A 20-year-old man faces the same charges stemming from the incident. He was not arrested, but an arrest warrant will be issued, according to the sergeant.

. "They learned during the investigation that unknown suspects used spray paint to vandalize the school," he wrote in an announcement released Wednesday. "The graffiti included racial slurs and anti-gay content."

Find out what's happening in Temeculawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Temecula Police Department investigators followed up on April 2 and found a few clues on who the culprits were. "During the following weeks, Temecula Police investigators developed leads in this case that led to the writing of multiple search warrants," Green said.

Sheriff's officials searched one of the suspect's' home in the 40000 block of Hudson Court in Temecula on April 16 and the home of the other in the 39000 block of June Court, also in Temecula, on April 17. Investigators found evidence in the houses and later arrested them.

A similar crime was committed at Temecula Valley High School last weekend, though whether the two crimes are related was unavailable by publication time.

The investigation is ongoing. Anybody with information was asked to call Investigator David Gorlicki at 951-696-3000.


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