Car spray-painted with racial slur
A San Pedro family is considering leaving its home after its car was vandalized with a racial slur and swastikas in late December.
Los Angeles police were investigating after the family noticed black spray paint on a red Ford Mustang in the area of 10th Street and Patton Avenue sometime around 10 a.m. on Dec. 29, officials told City News Service. The tires had been slashed.
A message on one side of the car said “Merry Christmas” followed by a racial slur on the passenger side and “Happy New Year” on the driver's side, according to NBC Los Angeles. Swastikas were spray-painted on the rear bumper.
NBC reported that police are investigating the vandalism as a hate crime.
Capt. Brent McGuyre said a neighbor saw the vandalism and called police. Officers used the license-plate number to find the owner and alert the family.
The captain also said police believe the vandalism stemmed from a parking dispute.
“We think it just escalated over a parking dispute in that neighborhood, which has streets with crowded parking,” he said.
Reginald Scott, who owns the car, told the station he and his family are considering moving because they are scared for their safety. He said it's not the first time someone has vandalized a vehicle of his.
“We've been here for about 26 years, but it's about time to leave,” he told the station, adding that a truck he owns was set on fire in front of the family's home two years ago.
Several officials condemned the vandalism.
“The words and symbols spray-painted on the car cause real, tangible terror and harm to our neighbors and our community,” Los Angeles Councilman Tim McOsker, whose district includes San Pedro, said in a statement. “I do not take this lightly. This crime is hateful, deplorable and has no place here.”
Said L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, in a statement: “Few of us can imagine the fear and anger that Mr. Scott and his family are feeling after this most-recent attack. I am outraged and saddened that one of our neighbors could be targeted in such a vile way.”