What to Know
- Two boys, both 17, have been arrested for allegedly urinating on a younger girl and yelling racial slurs at an NJ high school football game
- The school district said it is working closely with police on the investigation; the township's mayor said he was "deeply disturbed"
- Authorities have declined to elaborate on the slurs that allegedly were used or discuss other related details, citing the ongoing probe
Two 17-year-old boys have been arrested for allegedly urinating on a younger girl and yelling racial slurs while all three attended a high school football game in New Jersey last week.
It's still not clear what sparked the incident at Lawrence High School on Friday night. Authorities have declined to elaborate on the slurs that allegedly were used or discuss other related details, citing the ongoing investigation.
Lawrence police say both of the boys are of Indian descent and live in the township. They're charged with harassment, bias intimidation, and lewdness.
Authorities have not disclosed the race or age of the victim, saying only that she also lives in Lawrence and attends a public school.
The school district said in a statement it is working closely with police on the investigation, adding, "We take these incidents seriously and we will continue to investigate until all of the facts are uncovered."
Christopher Bobbitt, the mayor of Lawrence Township, says he personally knows what the sting of hate feels like and said "hate has no home" in his community.
"I know that bigotry exists and sadly will continue to exist but that doesn’t mean that I give up," Bobbitt said. "Instead I look to find allies that will help me fight the cancer of bigotry."
Saying he was "deeply disturbed" by the allegations as they emerged on social media, Bobbitt added, "the police need to do their jobs and investigate the matter."
Anyone with information is asked to call the Lawrence Township Police Department at 609-896-1111.
