LADY LAKE, Fla. — Two boys were arrested on charges of criminal mischief with the hate crime enhancement after they spray painted swastikas and racial slurs all over a Lady Lake neighborhood, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Vandals spray-painted cars, garages, and fences of both white and African-American residents on Palm Street.
Residents said they're shocked something like this happened in their neighborhood, and hope it won't happen again.
"No one in this neighborhood has any disagreements with anyone. I'm just really surprised that someone would write something like that," said resident Gina Stokes.
"Nothing like this has ever happened before so I was just wondering what was really going on," said resident Ashley Reid.
The boys caused more than $2,400 in damage, deputies said.
The charges that the juveniles face are first-degree misdemeanors.
They were booked into the Lake County jail and will be turned over to their parents once processed, officials said.
Deputies said the boys were cooperative with detectives and claimed to not have had any racial motivation for what they did.
Because the charges were misdemeanors, detectives could not release their identities.