Police Investigate Vandalism at Shaare Torah in Gaithersburg (PHOTOS & VIDEO)
PHOTO | City of Gaithersburg Police Department
Detectives from both the Gaithersburg and Montgomery County Police departments are looking for the vandals that defaced the Shaare Torah synagogue, located at 1409 Main Street, in the Lakelands community on April 7.
The incident was first reported to a police officer who was flagged down at 7:10 a.m. on Tuesday morning by a citizen.
Officers arrived at the scene and observed, painted in white, eleven Swastikas and one “KKK” on the brick exterior and the front door glass of the building.
Representatives for the synagogue provided officers surveillance video from the building’s cameras. The incident captured on video was dated at 2:47 a.m. on April 7. Police said the video shows two unknown suspects dressed in casual clothes, wearing black masks with white skull-like faces, spray painting the synagogue.
PHOTO | City of Gaithersburg Police Department
Detectives are following up on leads but are also asking residents and commercial business owners in the immediate area to check their exterior surveillance cameras for the two suspects in the provided pictures.
Detectives are also asking anyone who may have information pertaining to the incident to call police. Citizens may remain anonymous when they call the Gaithersburg Police Tip Line at 301.330.4471. You may also call the Public Safety Communications Center at 301.279.8000.
For more coverage, see our earlier stories below:
Gaithersburg Teen Charged With Shaare Torah Vandalism Pleads Guilty
The teen, who was arrested and charged with vandalizing a Gaithersburg synagogue, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, according to court documents. Sebastian Espinoza-Carranza was charged with defacement of religious property, damage to a religious institution, and malicious destruction of property for the antisemitic graffiti found on Shaare Torah Synagogue in Gaithersburg back in April. His sentencing is set […]
Gaithersburg Teen Charged With Shaare Torah Vandalism Regrets His Actions (VIDEO)
It was an emotional interview for Sebastian Espinoza-Carranza at his home in Gaithersburg. The teen was arrested and charged with vandalizing a Gaithersburg synagogue. The 18-year-old teen says he is not a racist person and that he is really sorry. The congregation’s surveillance video helped lead police to Spinoza-Carranza. It shows him allegedly spray painting swastikas, […]
Closing Vandalism Case Was Important to Detectives (VIDEO)
In this MyMCMedia extra video, Montgomery County Corporal Rebecca Innocenti says it was important for detectives to identify the suspects in the vandalism case at the Shaare Torah synagogue as quickly as possible:
How Detectives Used 7-11 Surveillance Video to Solve Vandalism Case (VIDEO)
In this MyMCMedia extra video, Montgomery County Corporal Rebecca Innocenti explains how detectives used video from a local 7-11 to find the masked suspect(s) in the vandalism case at the Shaare Torah synagogue in Gaithersburg.
Vandalism Suspect: "I Really Regret What I Did, I'm Really Sorry" (VIDEO)
In an interview outside his Gaithersburg home today, the 18-year-old charged with vandalism at the Shaare Torah synagogue says he is not a racist person and that he is really sorry. “I want to say that I really regret what I did and I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have done it. … I’m not a […]
Police Announce Arrest in Shaare Torah Vandalism Case (PHOTOS & VIDEO)
From the beginning, video played a key role in the vandalism case at the Shaare Torah synagogue and today Montgomery County Police said it was a video from a nearby business that resulted in the arrest of an 18-year-old suspect. Corporal Rebecca Innocenti answered questions about the arrest of that teen in front of the […]
Mother Says Alleged Synagogue Vandal Regrets His Actions
The mother of the Gaithersburg teen charged with spray painting anti-semitic messages on a Kentlands synagogue says he regrets what he did. Sebastian Espinoza-Carranza, 18, of the 16700 block of Sioux Lane, was arrested on April 14 and charged with property damage to a religious institution, defacement of a religious property, and malicious destruction of […]
Shaare Torah President Shares Thoughts on Arrest of Gaithersburg Teen (VIDEO)
In this MyMCMedia extra, Connie Liss, president of the Shaare Torah Synagogue talks about arrest of a Gaithersburg teen for defacing the building on Main Street. Liss warns against complacency: Related coverage:
Police Arrest Man in Synagogue Vandalism in Gaithersburg
A man is under arrest this morning in connection with the vandalism of the Shaare Torah Synagogue on Main Street in Gaithersburg. Montgomery County Police announced Wednesday morning that the man was arrested this morning but provided no additional details. More information is expected at noon. Last week police said they had identified a “person of […]
Council President Leventhal on the Shaare Torah Vandalism Case (VIDEO)
At his weekly briefing on April 13, Council President George Leventhal called the vandalism at Shaare Torah synagogue a “hate crime” as he shared his thoughts on the April 7th incident. Take a look:
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