Authorities are on the lookout for three suspects connected to the keying of 16 cars in Phoenix, with damages totaling up to $100,000, according to the Phoenix Police Department. The vandalism is believed to directly tie back to a protest on January 28, as reported by FOX10 Phoenix. The vehicles were parked at 55th Place and Cannon Drive by individuals participating in a demonstration against the Anti-Defamation League CEO's speech at the Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue.
Among the victims was Jamil Naser, who found "extremely vulgar, very dehumanizing, racist" messages scratched into the paint of the cars, including the terms ‘Baby Killers’ and ‘Murderers’ along with the Star of David symbol. Naser conveyed to Arizona's Family that the act, in his view, constitutes a hate crime. Meanwhile, Bill Whitmire, a protestor whose car was spared, expressed his shock at the level of hate and destruction, wishing for the perpetrators to take accountability for their actions.
Silent Witness has stepped in to offer a $1,000 reward for information that could lead to identification of the two men and one woman seen driving what appears to be a 2019 Audi Q-8 e-tron, as per the police description. The suspects were captured in images released by the police department, with calls from authorities for the public to assist in their identification.
Community responses to the incident have been notably strong, with Sophie Levitt—a protester and a Jewish individual—telling Arizona's Family that the desecration of the Star of David symbol made her feel physically ill. The suspects' identification seems to be crucial, not just to hold them accountable, but also to possibly mend the harm inflicted on a community striving to peacefully advocate for their cause. As the investigation continues, Phoenix Police urge anyone with details regarding the suspects to step forward, with the option to remain anonymous through Silent Witness contacts at 480-WITNESS or 480-TESTIGO, and through their online platform.
