An investigation was continuing Wednesday into the vandalism of a glass door at the Chabad House at USC, but police said they do not believe the damage rises to the level of a hate crime.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers from the USC Department of Public Safety responded to the house on the 2700 block of Severance Street around 9:15 p.m. Tuesday.
Police said four suspects, described only as “male juveniles,” approached the building, and two of them ran to the glass front door of the building, “and one kicked it, causing damage.”
Despicable.
Last night the Chabad at @USC was vandalized and individuals shattered glass at the Chabad House, @jewsc.
Chabads are a center of Jewish life on many campuses, and in communities around the world.
If you’ve been to one, you know how welcoming they are to all. pic.twitter.com/f5aKjJ7Cyn
— Jonathan Allen (@jonathanallen44) June 5, 2024
“The juveniles fled the scene on bicycles,” police said in a statement. “LAPD Southwest Detectives responded to the location and took a vandalism report. Based on preliminary information, this incident did not rise to the level of a hate crime.”
Chabad House officials posted surveillance video of the crime on X.
“Today, the Chabad House at USC was vandalized. Two men came and destroyed the front to the place that the Wagner family and many Jewish USC students call home,” according to Chabad of USC’s post on X, formerly Twitter. “The event only further highlights the rising antisemitism on US college campuses.”
No further information about the suspects was immediately released. According to police, the USC DPS and LAPD Southwest Area University Park Special Problems Unit is increasing patrols in the area while the investigation continues.
