Chula Vista city officials and community leaders denounced anti-Semitic and homophobic markings at two local schools during a Nov. 4 press conference.
The Chula Vista Police Department opened a hate crime investigation due to the nature of the vandalism. Authorities believe the acts of vandalism occurred on the night of Oct. 31, and are related due the yellow, teal and black paint used at Bonita Vista Middle School and Bonita Vista High School.
“This is not who we are,” said Councilman Stephen Padilla who is an alumnus of Bonita Vista High. “The content, ideation, messaging, the hate language directed at people of the Jewish faith and heritage, and culture and those in the LGBTQ community is very disturbing”
Mayor of Chula Vista Mary Salas, San Diego County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Nora Vargas, Executive Director of San Diego Pride Fernando Zweifach Lopez and Rabbi and Co-President of San Diego Rabbinical Association Devorah Marcus were in attendance.
School resource officers at both schools discovered thousands of dollars of damages on Nov.1 according to a press release on Tuesday. Investigators believed both incidents occurred between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m on Halloween night.
According to the CVPD, Investigators filed both incidents as hate crimes because of the nature expressed in the spray-painted statements.
The motive behind these incidents remains unknown.
Police will award information leading to an arrest and investigators are trying to locate witnesses and potential suspects. Anyone who may have information regarding the vandalism are asked to call the San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477. Students with information can use the P3 App (Students Speaking Out). Tipsters may remain anonymous.
