‘Very concerning’ to see 4 teens arrested for hate crimes in Bellingham – KIRO 7 News Seattle

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — 4 youngsters are dealing with potential hate crime fees after their alleged actions in Bellingham on Friday.

Bellingham Police say that the kids, aged 14 to 17, are believed to have approached a person close to the Granary Constructing. Police say the kids then started to ‘whip him with their t-shirts’ and use ‘homophobic slurs and racial slurs’ on the 26-year-old man.

“It shouldn’t be simple to spew that sort of hate even at a younger age,” says Lt. Claudia Murphy. “To have 14-year-olds espouse hate and to again that up with bodily confrontation….may be very regarding for somebody who’s that younger.”

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Lt. Murphy says the alleged crimes didn’t finish there. She says the kids continued to observe the person down the road, and at one level picked up rocks and commenced to throw them at him. Police say the person had accidents on his head and elbow according to having rocks thrown.

After the person returned house, police say he known as two pals, who confronted the kids.

Officers say the kids used extra slurs when chatting with the sufferer’s pals after which are alleged to have threatened to stab or shoot them.

“That’s what crosses it over to the hate crime. Calling somebody a foul identify, whereas abhorrent, isn’t against the law in and of itself. There must be both bodily hurt, the specter of bodily hurt, or property injury,” says Lt. Murphy.

Police arrested the kids. It’s now as much as the Whatcom County Prosecutors Workplace whether or not to file hate crime fees in opposition to them.