Residents of San Diego's San Carlos neighborhood discovered swastikas and racial slurs spray-painted across homes, fences, and vehicles during an overnight rampage, prompting a hate crime investigation by local authorities. The vandalism occurred along Lake Ariana Avenue and surrounding streets.
Orlando Chavez, whose hauling truck was among the vehicles defaced, told CBS 8 that the N-word and a swastika were painted on its side. He subsequently covered the hateful markings with black spray paint himself.
A Jewish resident, who requested anonymity, reported finding a swastika on his property, expressing distress over the hateful symbols. Neighbor Don Montgomery shared surveillance footage showing a blurry image of two individuals near his home around 2:30 a.m., leading to speculation that teenagers might be responsible, though he emphasized age would not excuse the behavior.
The vandalism has drawn condemnation from local officials. City Councilmember Raul Campillo, who represents the area, described the incident as "completely abhorrent" and noted its disturbing timing shortly before Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Campillo stated that the vandalism is an attack aimed at instilling fear and does not represent the city's values. He confirmed he has been in contact with the San Diego Police Department and called for the perpetrators to be held accountable.
California law allows for enhanced criminal penalties for vandalism motivated by bias, though specific charges would depend on the investigation's findings, the extent of the damage, and the evidence uncovered.
San Carlos is a diverse community with a population of approximately 14,383 residents, including white, Black, Middle Eastern, and Jewish individuals. The appearance of racist and antisemitic graffiti has been particularly disturbing to neighbors.