3 teens charged after racist graffitti found on Bethesda high school's campus, again
Racist graffiti including the N-word, a noose and the word "lynch" was found on the campus of Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda. FOX 5 has altered the image for publication.
BETHESDA, Md. (FOX 5 DC) - Police in Montgomery County have charged three teens in connection with racist graffiti found on a Bethesda high school's campus.
According to police, on the morning of Saturday, June 13, an officer was on patrol when a resident alerted them to racist words and an image spray-painted on property belonging to Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda.
RELATED: Racist graffiti found on Bethesda high school's campus, again
When the officer arrived at the school, police say they observed that a noose along with a racial slur had been spray-painted on a utility shed. The officer also observed a racial slur spray-painted on the pavement in front of the shed.
Police say on June 14, 18-year Jake Foster Hoffman and an unidentified 17-year-old boy, who were both accompanied by a parent, went to the police station in the 2nd District to discuss the vandalism with officers.
While there, the 17-year-old boy told police "he committed this racially-themed vandalism because he thought it would be fun to have something make the news given the current events occurring in the United States."
Police say Hoffman and the 17-year-old also said "they felt regret soon after the vandalism and that they wanted to turn themselves in."
During an investigation, police determined another unidentified 17-year-old boy "suggested to the first juvenile male suspect that if he wanted to commit a racially-themed vandalism to the school that he should do it to the front of the school."
Hoffman also said to police that he told the first juvenile male that he should vandalize the utility shed instead of the front of the school.
On March 1, police say similar racist graffitti was found at the high school and the second 17-year-old boy admitted to committing that act of vandalism.
Police say the first 17-year-old was charged as a juvenile with two counts of destruction of property and released to the custody of his parent. Meanwhile, the second 17-year-old was charged as a juvenile with conspiracy to commit destruction of property. He was also released to the custody of a parent.
Hoffman was charged via District Court Summons with conspiracy to commit destruction of property.
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Whitman Principal Robert W. Dodd told parents Saturday morning that the school had covered up the graffiti and contacted the police.
"I want to emphasize as strongly as possible that this racist and destructive behavior will not be tolerated in the Walt Whitman High School community," Dodd wrote in an email to parents. "If it is discovered that our students were involved, they will receive serious consequences and may face additional charges from Montgomery County Police."
The graffiti arrived as racism takes center stage in national politics again following the death of George Floyd and accompanying protests.
The image at Walt Whitman High School includes the N-word, the word "lynch" and the drawing of a noose. FOX 5 has removed the vulgarity for publication online.