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13-year-olds caught throwing fireworks into crowd at CA Pride event, cops say
Two 13-year-old boys threw 'suspected fireworks' into a crowd at a California city's annual LGBTQ+ Pride event, officials said. Now they're arrested and facing charges.
Minutes before the City of Redwood was set to ceremoniously raise a Progress Pride flag in honor of the LGBTQIA+ community at a courthouse downtown, the teens 'shouted derogatory, homophobic profanities' and threw a firework into the crowd, Mayor Elmer Martinez Saballos said in a news release.
The attack occurred at 5:55 p.m. June 4 — exactly five minutes before the ceremony was planned to start, Redwood City Police Department said in a news release.
The teens took off before law enforcement officers arrived, officials said. Part of the attack was recorded on surveillance video, officials said.
Two adults were hurt in the attack and one had minor injuries, officials said.
Later on that night, police found and arrested one of the 13-year-old boys suspected in the attack. The next day, investigators found and arrested the other 13-year-old suspected in the attack.
They face assault with a deadly weapon and hate crime charges, the department said.
'The act of hate and violence is unacceptable and deeply troubling,' Mayor Saballos said in a statement. 'We are committed to being a safe, welcoming, and inclusive community for all.'
The statement went on to say the 'distressing incident' was not reflective of leadership's values and that city officials would work with police and residents 'to ensure Courthouse Square and every space in our city is a place of safety, respect and belonging.'
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Redwood City Police Department at 650-780-7100.
Redwood City is about a 30-mile drive southeast from San Francisco.
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