LAWRENCE, N.J. (1010 WINS) – Two teen boys from New Jersey have been arrested in a disturbing case police say may be a hate crime.
The incident allegedly happened at a Lawrence High School football game on Friday night.
Officials confirmed the arrests are connected to social media posts, which described one of the boys urinating on a black, eighth-grade girl while using the N word. At least one of the posts was said to be from a student's parent, NJ.com reported.
“It is alleged that racially derogatory names were being used and that someone urinated on one of the victims while using this language,” Lawrence police Chief Brian Caloiaro said in a statement. “As a police department, we take these incidents very seriously and we will continue to investigate until all of the facts are uncovered. This type of behavior will not be condoned in our community.”
The school superintendent, Ross Kasun, says the district is cooperating with the investigation.
“We are working with the police department and it is being investigated,” Kasun wrote to parents in an email.
Lawrence Mayor Christopher Bobbitt said he was “deeply disturbed” by the incident, which happened at a game between Lawrence and Steinert high schools.
The teens face charges of harassment, bias intimidation and lewdness.
They have not been identified because they are minors, but police say they are 17 years old and live in Lawrence Township.